Shale Gas Issues from Various Jurisdictions

Shale Gas Issues From Various Jurisdictions ...... 5 Foreword ...... 5 Calls for Moratoriums and Bans ...... 7 Call for permanent ban on fracking in Scotland in wake of new US study ...... 7 VICTORY: Ireland bans fracking ...... 7 Contamination and Science ...... 8 Wynne government opens the door to fracking in Ontario ...... 8 Council of Canadians condemns Wynne government giving green light to fracking in Ontario ...... 8 US farmers say sand mining destroying environment - Embedded video ...... 9 Renewable Energy ...... 10 NB Power announces expansion of Kent Hills wind farm ...... 10 Science and Health ...... 11 Economics, Legal, and Investigations ...... 12 Swedish pension fund sells out of six firms it says breach Paris climate deal ...... 12 Regulations ...... 13 Environment and Enjoyment of Property ...... 14 Paris climate agreement: world reacts as Trump pulls out of global accord – live ...... 14 Donald Trump confirms US will quit Paris climate agreement ...... 15 Paris climate deal: Dismay as Trump signals exit from accord ...... 15 Trump announces US withdrawal from Paris climate change deal ...... 16 Statement by Former Vice President Al Gore on Today’s Decision by the Trump Administration to Withdraw from the Paris Agreement ...... 16 Opinion: Trudeau's CO2 Scorecard (update) ...... 16 Second Biggest Jump in Annual CO2 Levels Reported as Trump Leaves Paris Climate Agreement ...... 17 The report Costs of Pollution in Canada: Measuring the impacts on families, businesses and governments ...... 17 Study: India's rising temperatures are already deadly ...... 17 Vanishing Arctic Sea-Ice: Expect the Unexpected...... 18 Canceled flights, burning door handles: Heat hits Southwest ...... 18 Trudeau breaks another election promise leaving 99% of lakes and rivers unprotected in Canada, says Council of Canadians ...... 18 Hot Spots - Climate change will not affect everyone equally ...... 19 Merkel vows to put climate change at the center of G20 talks ...... 20 Next Three Years Will Decide Fate of Our Planet's Climate, Experts Warn ...... 20 Study: Climate change damages US economy, increases inequality ...... 20 Government, Meetings, News, and Letters ...... 22 Liberals grow the ranks of permanently gagged public servants ...... 22 The Prime Minister announces a change in the senior ranks of the Public Service ...... 22 Maliseet First Nations considering Aboriginal title claim, chief says ...... 23 Indigenous engagement on Energy East to be the focus of new 4-person NEB team ...... 23 Public lands, public data. Here's how some provinces are lagging ...... 24 Trudeau breaks another election promise leaving 99% of lakes and rivers unprotected in Canada, says Council of Canadians ...... 24 New Brunswick News ...... 26 This man could stop Pointe-du-Chêne's controversial campground project ...... 26 Information Morning - Moncton, Michael Premo - "Water Warriors" ...... 26 Maritime News ...... 27 Alton Gas offers deal to Mi’kmaq community in exchange for end to demonstrations ...... 27 Canadian News ...... 28

1 Barriere Lake Algonquins Face Assault by Mining Company Copper One at Annual General Meeting ...... 28 B.C. bands 'excited' after Supreme Court upholds First Nations fishing rights ...... 28 Train to Churchill suspended after 'catastrophic' flood damage to track ...... 28 Council of Canadians condemns Wynne government giving green light to fracking in Ontario ...... 29 Lead, oil, salt: Calgary's push for control over potentially hundreds of contaminated sites ...... 30 Rebel Media: From Promoting Tar Sands and Climate Denial to “Bigoted Lunatics” ...... 31 Other News ...... 32 5 officials indicted on manslaughter charges over Flint water crisis ...... 32 EPA just gave notice to dozens of scientific advisory board members that their time is up ...... 32 Water ...... 33 Is Brian Gallant's Government dismantling our water protection behind closed doors? ...... 33 5 officials indicted on manslaughter charges over Flint water crisis ...... 33 Why 'hydro-politics' will shape the 21st century ...... 34 Information Morning - Moncton, Michael Premo - "Water Warriors" ...... 34 Fracking and Earthquakes ...... 35 Oil and Pipelines ...... 36 Financial firms lead shareholder rebellion against ExxonMobil climate change policies ...... 36 CSIS report on Trans Mountain describes ‘violent confrontations’ over resource development ..... 36 TigerSwan's Corporate Mercenaries Track Protesters Like "Jihadists" ...... 36 Line 3 Is the Next Dakota Access Pipeline. Here’s What You Need to Know...... 37 Report: Application Incomplete ...... 37 Big business wants to nix climate from regulator's Energy East review ...... 38 Enbridge was violating Line 5 easement for years, documents show ...... 38 Private Mercenary Firm TigerSwan Compares Anti-DAPL Water Protectors to "Jihadist Insurgency" ...... 39 Energy East consultation on hearing design will focus on Indigenous voices ...... 40 Ohio judge orders state police to release North Dakota records ...... 40 Graph: More Than Enough ...... 41 Can Canada Expand Oil and Gas Production, Build Pipelines and Keep Its Climate Change Commitments? ...... 41 Poland receives first shipment of American liquefied natural gas ...... 42 Charest smiles after Energy East question on Montreal red carpet ...... 42 Environmental and Indigenous groups demand banks avoid supporting Trans Mountain expansion ...... 43 Christy Clark’s Dangerous Site C Propaganda War ...... 44 Is the Site C dam’s electricity destined for LNG Industry? ...... 44 Site C Dam: A $10 Billion Taxpayer Subsidy for LNG, Fracking ...... 44 Stand.earth Challenges Accuracy of Kinder Morgan IPO ...... 45 Carr: Canada would consider Chinese investment proposals for oilsands ...... 45 March over the Nashwaak River to highlight the secrecy and risks of the Energy East tar sands pipeline project ...... 46 Is Energy East a bad deal for Canadians? ...... 46 Natural Resources Canada - How Canada’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Industry Affects You .. 47 What to do if you find these pink tags in a Kenora, Ont.-area waterway ...... 47 Fredericton chapter & allies march against the Energy East pipeline ...... 47 Irving Oil opposes new assessment criteria for Energy East pipeline ...... 48 In Victory for Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Court Finds That Approval of Dakota Access Pipeline Violated the Law ...... 48 Energy East pipeline review may look at broader climate impacts ...... 49 How Plastic Bottles Benefit ExxonMobil ...... 49

2 Coalition urges banks to shun financing for Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain ...... 50 This lonely drifting tanker carrying 2 million barrels nobody wants to buy sums up global oil’s struggle ...... 50 Pipeline to the classroom: how big oil promotes fossil fuels to America's children ...... 51 From 2011: 'Fracking' company targets US children with colouring book ...... 51 Will Justin be the second Trudeau to get his clock cleaned by B.C.? ...... 51 Swedish pension fund sells out of six firms it says breach Paris climate deal ...... 52 Trans Mountain pipeline's necessity questioned as tanker traffic slumps ...... 52 Judge OK's Deposition of Tar Sands Employee in Exxon Climate Fraud Probe ...... 53 Judge's DAPL Ruling, Reckless Spill Record Pushes Pipeline Company's Shares Below $20 for First Time ...... 53 Spills on Aging Enbridge Pipeline Have Topped 1 Million Gallons, Report Says ...... 53 Oil spills/Pipelines ...... 55 Russia's Rosneft discovers vast new oil deposit on Arctic shelf ...... 55 Lead, oil, salt: Calgary's push for control over potentially hundreds of contaminated sites ...... 55 Michigan must act now to shut down Enbridge's Line 5 ...... 56 Big Oil is pumping fossil fuel propaganda into classrooms...... 57 France to stop issuing new oil & gas exploration licenses – environment minister ...... 58 Oilpatch support for Notley climate deal running on fumes as CEOs depart ...... 58 World's biggest coal company closes 37 mines as solar power's influence grows ...... 59 Schuette calls for closure of pipeline under Straits of Mackinac ...... 59 Andrew Scheer renews call for gas pump flags of origin ...... 59 Oil pipeline firms' discounts rile clients, roil markets ...... 60 Mining ...... 61 Video - Mine Tailings Dam Collapses in Canada and Brazil ...... 61 Barriere Lake Algonquins Face Assault by Mining Company Copper One at Annual General Meeting ...... 61 What the Mount Polley tailings disaster has to teach us to protect the Nashwaak from the Sisson mine ...... 62 Gallant government rushing to approve Sisson mine despite lack of information, consultation ...... 62 Three-year deadline to lay charges for Mt. Polley dam failure approaching fast ...... 63 Court denies deforestation permit to mining company in Algonquin territory ...... 63 Collection of links re the Sisson Mine Project in NB ...... 64 Re Sisson Mine CBC Story ...... 67 Maliseet chiefs stress opposition to Sisson mine, despite deal with government ...... 68 Call for managed and just transition from fossil fuels ...... 69 ExxonMobil Talks A Good Game, But It’s Still Funding Climate Science Deniers ...... 69 No Sure Plans, Funding for $51 Billion Cleanup and Rehabilitation of Oilsands Tailings Ponds .... 69 Data driven reality check points to end of growth in the tar sands ...... 70 Forestry ...... 71 'Keep up the fight': Maritime forestry workers rally for fair trade for softwood ...... 71 2nd wave of softwood lumber duties sets up 'dangerous' talks for Canada ...... 71 Wood marketing board turns to U.S. after snub in N.B. - Mar 06, 2017 ...... 71 N.B mill owner tells U.S. thousands of Maine jobs at risk over softwood lumber duties ...... 72 California places popular N.B. herbicide on list of cancer-causing chemicals ...... 72 It’s time for 21st Century forestry practices in N.B.: Glynn ...... 73 Conservation Council’s Tracy Glynn wins Unsung Hero Community Award ...... 73 Video Links ...... 74 TigerSwan's Corporate Mercenaries Track Protesters Like "Jihadists" ...... 74 Mine Tailings Dam Collapses in Canada and Brazil [1/2] ...... 74 Vanishing Arctic Sea-Ice: Expect the Unexpected...... 74

3 Information Morning - Moncton, Michael Premo - "Water Warriors" ...... 74

4 Shale Gas Issues From Various Jurisdictions

Foreword

The following documents have been collected by searching the web for information related to shale gas and from the Following web sites and

New Brunswick is NOT For Sale http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_132079906855023

New Brunswickers Concerned About Shale Gas http://www.facebook.com/ccnbshalegas

Ban Hydraulic Fracturing (hydro-fracking) In New Brunswick, Canada http://www.facebook.com/BanFrackingNB

Know Shale Gas NB – Support the legal action to stop Shale Gas in NB http://noshalegasnb.ca/news

NoShaleGasNB http://www.facebook.com/NoShaleGasNB

Shale Gas Info http://www.facebook.com/shalegas

Upriver Environment Watch http://www.facebook.com/groups/UpRiver/

Fracidental Drillers http://www.facebook.com/groups/133930663364584/

Fracking Research and New Brunswick, Canada http://nbfrackingresearch.com/

Facebook Groups: USA - A FACEBOOK FULL OF FRACTIVISTS: State-by-State Listings http://keeptapwatersafe.org/facebook-groups-usa/

Propublica – Links to many articles on Fracking http://www.propublica.org/series/fracking

Another good site: Fracking, Shale Gas and Health http://frackingandhealth.ca/

Is Our Forest Really Ours? http://isourforestreallyours.com/Isourforestreallyours/Welcome.html http://isourforestreallyours.com/Isourforestreallyours/Start_here.html https://www.facebook.com/groups/132079906855023/#!/groups/258525050949366/

More facebook information https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=617426124942641

5 United Opponents of Fracking International http://portjervisny.com/uaf.htm

SHALE GAS ALERTS NEW BRUNSWICK https://www.facebook.com/groups/112468105590081/? hc_location=stream#!/groups/112468105590081/

New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance / anti-gaz de schiste du N.-B http://www.noshalegasnb.ca/our-resources/

Frack , facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/187245954789252/

6 Calls for Moratoriums and Bans

Call for permanent ban on fracking in Scotland in wake of new US study

AN expert in public and environmental health has called on the Scottish Government to make its moratorium on fracking permanent, following a critical report on the practice in Texas which found that it pollutes the air, erodes soil and contaminates water.

Professor Andrew Watterson, chair in health effectiveness at the University of Stirling, was speaking after the study by a task force set up by the Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas found that the shale oil boom had also degraded natural resources and overwhelmed small communities. http://www.thenational.scot/news/15362536.Call_for_permanent_ban_on_fracking_in_Scotland_in_wak e_of_new_US_study/

VICTORY: Ireland bans fracking

Ireland joins France, Germany and Bulgaria in banning fracking onshore.

The Irish Senate, the Seanad, passed legislation on Wednesday outlawing the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

This vote was the last hurdle for passage of the bill. It was already passed by the Dáil, the lower house in Ireland, last month.

Anti-fracking groups in Ireland have been working tirelessly to make this happen. The groups showed their celebrations after the vote via Twitter: https://www.nationofchange.org/2017/06/29/victory-ireland-bans-fracking/

7 Contamination and Science

Wynne government opens the door to fracking in Ontario

The Council of Canadians is concerned that a recently-passed amendment to the provincial Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act opens the door to fracking in Ontario.

The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario has studied the amendment and comments, "Upon my review, it appears to me that parts of Schedule 23 are broad enough to be used to authorize fracking, although this may also be possible under the existing Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act."

On December 9, 2014, the then-provincial Liberal minister of natural resources Bill Mauro told the Legislature, "Should there be a need to move forward with this process in Ontario, there is legislation in effect—I believe it’s called the oil and gas act—that would need to be changed before fracking could be allowed in the province of Ontario."

On March 26, 2016, Mauro again told the Legislature, "Fracking is not occurring anywhere in the province of Ontario right now, and it does, should it be requested, require a licence from my particular ministry under the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act. ...A legislative change would be required before we would consider moving forward with fracking in the province of Ontario."

Now, Schedule 23 of Bill 127, the Stronger, Healthier Ontario Act (Budget Measures), amends the Act in a way that could be used to authorize fracking.

Specifically, it states, "The Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act is amended with respect to the regulation of compressed air energy storage projects prescribed by the regulations and of projects that involve the injection of substances into underground geological formations. The amendments relate to the definition of 'well' in section 1 of the Act; the requirement in section 11 of the Act to obtain a permit for injection projects; various regulation-making authorities in section 17 of the Act; and offences under section 19 of the Act."

It's the language highlighting "and of projects that involve the injection of substances into underground geological formations" that raises concerns. https://canadians.org/blog/wynne-government-opens-door-fracking-ontario

Council of Canadians condemns Wynne government giving green light to fracking in Ontario

The Ontario government recently made regulatory changes to the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act that open the door to fracking in Ontario.

Schedule 23 of Bill 127, the Stronger, Healthier Ontario Act (Budget Measures) states: “The Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act is amended with respect to the regulation of compressed air energy storage projects prescribed by the regulations and of projects that involve the injection of substances into underground geological formations.” (emphasis added)

8 “The Canadian government is currently being sued under NAFTA for almost $120 million for Quebec’s moratorium on fracking after companies had staked claims,” says Lui. “Next year, the Liberal government may well be replaced by the Conservatives. It must ban fracking now if it wants to protect drinking water.”

In a May 11 letter to MPP Peter Tabuns, the Environmental Commissioner Dianne Saxe noted, “Upon my review, it appears to me that parts of Schedule 23 are broad enough to be used to authorize fracking, although this may also be possible under the existing Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act.” Later in the letter, she adds, “If the government does not intend these changes to apply to high-volume hydraulic fracturing, the easiest way to avoid misinterpretation would be to expressly provide that this permitting authority does not apply to fracking.”

However, on May 17, the Liberal majority in the provincial legislature passed Bill 127 without stating that Schedule 23 does not apply to fracking.

On March 26, 2016, the then-provincial Liberal Minister of Natural Resources Bill Mauro told the Legislature “A legislative change would be required before we would consider moving forward with fracking in the province of Ontario.” It appears that the required legislative change has now happened.

Ontario has encouraged fracking companies in the past. In 2010, the Ministry of Natural Resources released an aerial survey of southwestern Ontario that maps out geological zones that lend themselves to oil and gas formations. And in December 2011, the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines published a study on areas of potential development for shale gas exploration. https://canadians.org/media/council-canadians-condemns-wynne-government-giving-green-light- fracking-ontario

US farmers say sand mining destroying environment - Embedded video

Farmers in the US say the booming sand-mining industry is threatening their future. The sand is vital to help extract oil and gas from deep underground. However, environmental activists say the mining is having disastrous effects on the environment and livelihoods. http://www.aljazeera.com/video/news/2017/06/farmers-sand-mining-destroying-environment- 170626083142097.html

9 Renewable Energy

NB Power announces expansion of Kent Hills wind farm

5 new wind turbines will power an additional 7,300 homes a year, company says

NB Power has announced an expansion of the Kent Hills wind farm in Albert County.

The expansion will see TransAlta build five new wind turbines, in addition to the 50 already on the site, which will add 17.25 megawatts of generating capacity to the company's wind farm.

According to TransAlta, this will power an additional 7,300 homes a year.

The new turbines will make up for the wind farm producing a lower-than-expected amount of energy so far. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/kent-hills-wind-farm-1.4169706

10 Science and Health

11 Economics, Legal, and Investigations

Swedish pension fund sells out of six firms it says breach Paris climate deal

OSLO, June 15 (Reuters) - Sweden's largest national pension fund, AP7, has sold its investments in six companies that it says violate the Paris climate agreement, a decision environmentalists believe is the first of its kind.

AP7, which provides pensions to 3.5 million Swedes, said on Thursday it had sold out of ExxonMobil, Gazprom , TransCanada Corp, Westar, Entergy and Southern Corp, and would no longer invest in companies that operate in breach of the Paris climate accord.

"Since the last screening in December 2016, the Paris agreement to the U.N. Climate Convention is one of the norms we include in our analysis," the company said in a statement.

AP7 said ExxonMobil, Westar, Southern Corp and Entergy had fought against introducing climate legislation in the United States. It also criticised Gazprom for looking for oil in the Russian Arctic and TransCanada for building large-scale pipelines in North America http://news.trust.org/item/20170615181801-579co/

12 Regulations

13 Environment and Enjoyment of Property

Paris climate agreement: world reacts as Trump pulls out of global accord – live

US president ditches current agreement: ‘We’re getting out, but we’ll start to negotiate and we’ll see if we can make a deal that’s fair’

Macron: Trump made a 'mistake' The view from Australia Germany The view from Russia Europe says no 'renegotiation' of Paris deal Merkel 'regrets' Trump move The Berliner Kurier

Pittsburgh rejects Trump embrace https://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2017/jun/01/donald-trump-paris-climate-agreement-live- news

14 Donald Trump confirms US will quit Paris climate agreement

“In order to fulfil my solemn duty to the United States and its citizens, the US will withdraw from the Paris climate accord, but begin negotiations to re-enter either the Paris accords or a really entirely new transaction, on terms that are fair to the United States,” the US president told press in the White House rose garden on Thursday.

“We will start to negotiate, and we will see if we can make a deal that’s fair,” Trump said. “If we can, that’s great. If we can’t, that’s fine.”

But Italy, France and Germany issued a joint statement shortly after Trump’s speech saying they believed the treaty could not be renegotiated.

Trump told the crowd outside the White House: “The fact that the Paris deal hamstrings the United States while empowering some of the world’s top polluting countries should expel any doubt as to why foreign lobbyists should wish to keep our beautiful country tied up and bound down … That’s not going to happen while I’m president, I’m sorry.”

He added: “I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.” https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/01/donald-trump-confirms-us-will-quit-paris- climate-deal

Paris climate deal: Dismay as Trump signals exit from accord

There has been widespread international condemnation of President Trump's announcement that the US is withdrawing from the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

• UN chief Antonio Guterres's spokesman called it "a major disappointment" while the European Union said it was "a sad day for the world". • Former US President Barack Obama, who agreed to the Paris deal, immediately criticised the move • Disney's chief executive Robert Iger and the entrepreneur Elon Musk both resigned from White House advisory councils. • Canada was "deeply disappointed" by President Trump's decision, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. • This was echoed by UK Prime Minister Theresa May, who expressed her disappointment and told Mr Trump in a phone call that the deal protects the "prosperity and security of future generations". • France's President Emmanuel Macron said he respected Mr Trump's decision but believed it was a "mistake both for the US and for our planet". • Japan's Finance Minister Taro Aso said: "I'm not just disappointed, but also feel anger." • A United Nations spokeswoman said it was a "major disappointment for global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote global security". • Small island nations whose existence is threatened by rising sea levels were critical of the move. The President of the Marshall Islands, Hilda Heine, said it was "highly concerning for those of us that live on the frontline of climate change". http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40128431

15 Trump announces US withdrawal from Paris climate change deal

The leaders of France, Germany and Italy released a joint statement less than an hour after Trump’s announcement, dismissing any opportunity for renegotiation and promising to step up their own support for the Paris Agreement.

Canada, the European Union, and China have said they will honor their commitments to the pact even if the US withdraws, Reuters reported.

"China will stand by its responsibilities on climate change," Premier Li Keqiang told reporters after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Tuesday.

Merkel called the Paris agreement "essential."

Russia likewise remains committed to the treaty, to which Moscow "attaches great significance," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday. https://www.rt.com/usa/390523-trump-paris-climate-pact/

Statement by Former Vice President Al Gore on Today’s Decision by the Trump Administration to Withdraw from the Paris Agreement

“Removing the United States from the Paris Agreement is a reckless and indefensible action. It undermines America’s standing in the world and threatens to damage humanity’s ability to solve the climate crisis in time. But make no mistake: if President Trump won’t lead, the American people will.

Civic leaders, mayors, governors, CEOs, investors and the majority of the business community will take up this challenge. We are in the middle of a clean energy revolution that no single person or group can stop. President Trump’s decision is profoundly in conflict with what the majority of Americans want from our president; but no matter what he does, we will ensure that our inevitable transition to a clean energy economy continues.” https://algore.com/news/statement-by-former-vice-president-al-gore-on-today-s-decision-by-the-trump- administration-to-withdraw-from-the-paris-agreement

Opinion: Trudeau's CO2 Scorecard (update)

On his way to becoming prime minister, Justin Trudeau famously said, "There is not a country in the world that would find billions of barrels of oil and leave it in the ground."

On Tuesday, he followed through.

Prime Minister Trudeau approved two giant new bitumen pipelines at once -- Kinder Morgan's tripling of Trans Mountain and Enbridge's doubling of Line 3. Combined they will allow an additional 200 million tonnes of climate pollution (MtCO2) to come out of Alberta's soil every year. That exceeds the combined annual emissions from 100 nations. These projects are designed to pump 10 billion tonnes of climate pollution over their fifty year life spans.

16 Trudeau called it a "major win."

He even repeated the declaration that no country would leave oil in the ground, so long as "there is a market for it." http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/12/01/opinion/opinion-trudeaus-co2-scorecard-update

Second Biggest Jump in Annual CO2 Levels Reported as Trump Leaves Paris Climate Agreement

NOAA released its annual update on greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere and found a large increase in 2016.

As President Donald Trump prepared to pull the United States out of the global Paris climate agreement this week, scientists at NOAA reported that 2016 had recorded the second-biggest jump in atmospheric carbon dioxide on record.

Last year's increase in the atmospheric CO2 concentration was nearly double the average pace since detailed measurements started in 1979.

Once CO2 is in the atmosphere, the heat-trapping gas persists there for decades as new emissions pile in, which means that even if global emissions level off—as they have started to do—the planet is on a path toward more warming, rising sea levels and increased heat waves and droughts in the decades ahead.

Concentrations of other greenhouse gases, including methane and nitrous oxide, also increased last year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's latest update to its greenhouse gas index. The heating effect of all combined greenhouses gases in the atmosphere increased by 2.5 percent in 2016, according to the index. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01062017/donald-trump-noaa-CO2-paris-climate-change- agreement

The report Costs of Pollution in Canada: Measuring the impacts on families, businesses and governments http://www.iisd.org/library/cost-pollution-canada

Study: India's rising temperatures are already deadly

India is now two and a half times more likely to experience a deadly heat wave than a half century ago, and all it took was an increase in the average temperature of just 0.5 degrees Celsius (less than 1 degree Fahrenheit), according to a study published Wednesday.

The findings are especially sobering considering that the world is on track for far more warming by the end of this century. In just the last two weeks, much of Asia has been gripped by a heatwave that saw Pakistan register a record 53.5 C (128.3 F) in the southern city of Turbat on May 28 — the world's hottest temperature ever recorded in the month of May. Temperatures in the Indian capital of New Delhi have soared beyond 44 C (111 F).

17 Even if countries are able to meet the Paris climate agreement goals in curbing climate-warming carbon emissions, that would still only limit the global temperature rise to an estimated 2 degrees C (3.6 F). U.S. President Donald Trump's recent pledge to exit the Paris agreement won't help. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/study-indias-rising-temperatures-deadly-47894172

Vanishing Arctic Sea-Ice: Expect the Unexpected...

By 2020 or earlier (maybe this year) humanity will experience our first Blue-Ocean event. Next to NO sea-ice cover on the vast Arctic Ocean in September. Within a few years NO ice in Aug/Sept/Oct; extended to July & Nov within a few more years. NO ice year round within a decade. As fast as sea-ice decline is (12%/decade), snow cover in spring is about twice as fast.

Everything will change. Find out how, why & how fast by following my videos & blog at http://paulbeckwith.net & please support my work and videos with a donation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9CMOL_iibs&feature=youtu.be

Canceled flights, burning door handles: Heat hits Southwest

Airlines canceled flights in Phoenix and doctors urged people to be careful around concrete, playground equipment and vehicle interiors Monday as a punishing heat wave threatens to bring temperatures approaching 120 degrees to parts of the Southwestern U.S.

Arizona is seeing the most stifling temperatures, but the wrath of the heat wave is being felt across Nevada and California as well. Las Vegas was forecast to hit 117 (47 Celsius) on Tuesday on the first day of summer, and excessive heat warnings cover almost all of California.

American Airlines canceled nearly 40 flights on Tuesday in Phoenix operated by regional jets because of the heat. The airline also said it will allow Phoenix passengers flying during the peak heat Monday through Wednesday to change flights without a fee.

American Airlines spokesman Ross Feinstein said the smaller regional jets flown by its partners can't operate once the temperature hits 118. That maximum is set by Bombardier, the manufacturer. http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/wireStory/heat-wave-creates-health-hazard-southwestern-us-48126519

Trudeau breaks another election promise leaving 99% of lakes and rivers unprotected in Canada, says Council of Canadians

The Council of Canadians is condemning the Trudeau government’s response to the review on the Navigation Protection Act and its announcement that it will leave 99% of waterways unprotected in Canada. This move breaks the Liberal promise to restore protections lost when the Navigable Waters Protection Act was eliminated by the Harper government.

18 unprotected from mega-dam, mining, fish farm and other industrial projects. There is also no clear commitment from the federal government to include pipeline reviews back under this legislation.”

Yesterday, Transport Canada issued a response accepting the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities recommendations, the first of which recommends leaving only a scant list of 99 rivers, 64 lakes and three oceans protected under the Navigation Protection Act, formerly the Navigable Waters Protection Act.

“Only 1 per cent of the 31,000 lakes and 2.25 million rivers in Canada will be protected under the Navigation Protection Act,” says Emma Lui, water campaigner for the Council of Canadians. “The federal government is abandoning its responsibility and its promise to protect people’s right to navigation and safeguard freshwater in Canada. This is also a clear violation of the government’s obligation to obtain free, prior and informed consent under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.” https://canadians.org/media/trudeau-breaks-another-election-promise-99-lakes-and-rivers-unprotected

Hot Spots - Climate change will not affect everyone equally

From heatwaves to hurricanes, floods to famine: seven climate change hotspots

http://edge.ensia.com/hot-spots/

19 Merkel vows to put climate change at the center of G20 talks

Addressing the challenge of climate change will be one of the central tasks of the upcoming G20 summit of the world's largest economies in Hamburg, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told lawmakers on Thursday.

In a speech to the German parliament, Merkel said she expected discussions on the matter to be difficult in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate pact, adding that, as host, she would lead the talks with the aim of furthering the pact's goals.

"We cannot expect easy discussions on climate change at the G20 summit," she said. "Our differences with the U.S. are clear." https://www.reuters.com/article/us-g20-germany-climatechange-idUSKBN19K0SU

Next Three Years Will Decide Fate of Our Planet's Climate, Experts Warn

Writing in the scientific journal Nature, leading climate scientists have issued their sternest warning yet that time is seriously running out to prevent runaway climate change.

"Should emissions continue to rise beyond 2020, or even remain level, the temperature goals set in Paris become almost unattainable," they warn. "Lowering emissions globally is a monumental task, but research tells us that it is necessary, desirable and achievable."

Indeed, if action is not taken by 2020, we could see that Paris agreed limit of 1.5 to 2 degrees being surpassed quite quickly.

They tell world leaders to be driven by the science rather than "hide their heads in the sand." "Entire ecosystems" were already collapsing, they warn.

The article was signed by more than 60 scientists, including professor Michael Mann of Pennsylvania State University as well as politicians such as former Mexican President Felipe Calderon and ex-Irish President Mary Robinson, and former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres. https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change-scientists-nature-2450295396.html? utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=0fed88f7fd- EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-0fed88f7fd-85899661

Study: Climate change damages US economy, increases inequality

"Unmitigated climate change will be very expensive for huge regions of the United States," said Hsiang, Chancellor's Associate Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. "If we continue on the current path, our analysis indicates it may result in the largest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in the country's history."

The pioneering study may settle the debate over whether climate change will help or hurt the U.S. economy, being the first to use state-of-the-art statistical methods and 116 climate projections developed by scientists around the world to price the impacts of climate change the way the insurance industry or an investor would, comparing risks and rewards. The team of economists and climate

20 scientists computed the real-world costs and benefits: how agriculture, crime, health, energy demand, labor and coastal communities will be affected by higher temperatures, changing rainfall, rising seas and intensifying hurricanes. https://phys.org/news/2017-06-climate-economy-inequality.html

21 Government, Meetings, News, and Letters

Liberals grow the ranks of permanently gagged public servants

The Privy Council Office recently bound another 94 current and former staffers to a lifetime of secrecy

The Liberal government has been expanding the number of public servants subject to lifetime gag orders, placing them under threat of hefty prison sentences should they spill any secrets before they die.

Since December, the Privy Council Office has designated at least 94 individuals, some of whom no longer work for the federal government, as "persons permanently bound to secrecy" or PPBS — a binding legal order intended to enforce their silence.

The group all had access to confidential, security-related information while working at the Privy Council Office or the Prime Minister's Office, and some were served with official notice of the gag order after they had left their jobs.

Each of them was individually identified by their boss or former boss as knowing secrets about national security, and therefore requiring a gag order that is retroactive — preventing them from talking about their work before the gag order was issued.

Each was also presented with a three-page notice to sign and return, many using a pre-paid, pre- addressed envelope that was enclosed.

CBC News learned about the latest round of lifetime gag orders through a request under the Access to Information Act, and some details have been confirmed by a government spokesperson. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/privy-council-prime-minister-s-office-secrecy-gag-security-information- wark-1.4139309

The Prime Minister announces a change in the senior ranks of the Public Service

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the following change in the senior ranks of the Public Service:

Francis McGuire becomes President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, effective June 12, 2017. Mr. McGuire previously served in senior leadership roles in the private sector and with the Government of New Brunswick.

The Prime Minister took the opportunity to congratulate Paul LeBlanc on the occasion of his recent retirement from the Public Service, following a distinguished career marked by dedication and excellence in serving Canadians. http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2017/05/31/prime-minister-announces-change-senior-ranks-public- service

22 Maliseet First Nations considering Aboriginal title claim, chief says

Tobique First Nation Chief says they're looking into title for traditional lands in western N.B.

The chief of the Tobique First Nation says the Maliseet First Nations are considering putting forth a claim of Aboriginal title for traditional lands in western New Brunswick.

"Right now we're doing our best to gather all the traditional knowledge we have from our elders and we hope to hire an ethno-historian to build our case," said Chief Ross Perley.

While he said he didn't want to disclose how far along the process was, Perley hinted a claim could come sooner than later.

"Let's just say that a lot of good work has been done to date and in the very near future we will be prepared to file a Maliseet title claim," he said. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/treaty-day-maliseet-first-nations-aboriginal-title- 1.4145582

Indigenous engagement on Energy East to be the focus of new 4-person NEB team

Group looks to gather oral traditional evidence and feedback through contemporary online means

The National Energy Board is dedicating a four-person team to make contact with Indigenous people and the general public about the Energy East pipeline over the next six weeks.

The team will work independently from the hearing panel that is leading the regulatory assessment of Energy East.

Its main goal will be to "engage with many of the more than 200 groups of Indigenous peoples who may be impacted by the projects," the NEB said Monday in a release.

The four members of the team are: • Alain Jolicoeur — A former public servant with 35 years of work in various roles, including as president of the Canada Border Services Agency and deputy minister of Indian and Northern Affairs. • Damien Côté — Chief operating officer of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and former executive director of the Nunavut Water Board. • Wilma Jacknife — A lawyer with more than 15 years experience specializing in First Nations governance and various aspects of Indigenous law. • Ronald Durelle — A former assistant deputy minister in various New Brunswick government departments relating to health and the environment. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/national-energy-board-indigenous-energy-east-team- 1.4146521

23 Public lands, public data. Here's how some provinces are lagging

Canadians may have difficulty finding out how governments are allowing industry to explore, alter or remove resources from publicly-owned land, new research has revealed.

Members of Global Forest Watch Canada (GFWC) recently tried to access datasets on government concessions for the forestry, mining, petroleum and natural gas industries across the country, but in a number of cases, that information was not available or accessible.

According to GFWC, an Ottawa-based non-profit that monitors the state of Canada's forests, nearly 90 per cent of surface land in Canada belongs to the public. The organization maintains that the public should able to monitor what happens to that land and how industry is able to access it through government agreements called 'concessions.'

Its May 2017 report details how much data is available on these agreements to industry, and how provincial and territorial commitments to “open government” and “open data” actually line up with how open and accessible the data really is.

While Canada doesn’t receive a failing grade overall, said GFWC executive director Wynet Smith, the report reveals that governments have a long way to go in achieving their transparency commitments. http://www.nationalobserver.com/2017/06/13/news/public-lands-public-data-heres-how-some- provinces-are-lagging

Trudeau breaks another election promise leaving 99% of lakes and rivers unprotected in Canada, says Council of Canadians

“We are deeply disappointed in the Trudeau government’s response to protecting the right to navigation and freshwater in Canada,” says Maude Barlow, chairperson of the Council of Canadians. “The key failing in the Trudeau government’s response is that it will leave 99 per cent of lakes and rivers unprotected from mega-dam, mining, fish farm and other industrial projects. There is also no clear commitment from the federal government to include pipeline reviews back under this legislation.”

24 25 New Brunswick News

This man could stop Pointe-du-Chêne's controversial campground project

Out for a walk, Anglican bishop meets opponents of mega-campsite proposed for local parish's land

The Anglican Bishop of Fredericton could be the man to stop a controversial campground project near Parlee Beach.

Bishop David Edwards was taking a walk in Pointe-du-Chêne on Wednesday, part of an annual pilgrimage he set out to do through the seven archdeaconries of New Brunswick.

But during his morning hike, he was approached by residents concerned about plans for a mega- campsite on Pointe-du-Chêne Road.

The Anglican Parish of Shediac not only owns the land on which the RV site would be built, but it shocked everyone when it was listed as the project's main proponent in the environmental impact assessment registered last month.

Asked whether he could stop the project, Edwards explained that the three parties — himself, the Diocese of Fredericton and the Anglican Parish of Shediac — have to agree before the project goes through. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fredericton-bishop-campground-concerns-1.4140123

Information Morning - Moncton, Michael Premo - "Water Warriors"

American director Michael Premo talks about the short movie "Water Warriors", a film about the fight against fracking in New Brunswick. http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/965383235530

26 Maritime News

Alton Gas offers deal to Mi’kmaq community in exchange for end to demonstrations

A Mi’kmaw band is deciding whether or not to accept a deal with a company building a controversial project.

Alton Gas is planning to store natural gas in underground salt caverns.

Mi’maq have fought the project over environmental concerns.

And some say the deal on the table won’t stop future protests. http://aptnnews.ca/2017/05/25/alton-gas-offers-deal-to-mikmaq-community-in-exchange-for-end-to- demonstrations/

27 Canadian News

Barriere Lake Algonquins Face Assault by Mining Company Copper One at Annual General Meeting

If Canadians want to understand why some First Nations are sitting out the Canada 150 celebrations, they need look no further than to 15 community members who took an eight-hour drive from Barriere Lake in Quebec to Toronto on Thursday.

The Algonquins attended the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Copper One mining company to let them know there will be no mining on their territory. They have repeatedly, unequivocally, over the course of six years, notified Copper One that they intend to protect the headwaters of the powerful Ottawa and Gatineau Rivers and the effected lifeworlds of ecosystems and communities downstream.

They were not even permitted to read a statement at the AGM: instead they were bullied, assaulted, threatened with arrest by police, accused of trespassing, and met with a thick line of “legal counsel” and security blocking their entrance into the meeting. The wonder of it all was the spirit of determination that remained undiminished and even galvanized by Barriere Lake in the face of the junior mining company’s obviously threatened response http://www.mediacoop.ca/video/barriere-lake-algonquins-face-assault-mining-compa/36544

B.C. bands 'excited' after Supreme Court upholds First Nations fishing rights

Five bands on the West Coast of Vancouver Island are hailing as "a major legal victory" a decision by the Supreme Court of Canada that confirms the right of native people to fish and to sell their catch.

The decision ends a long legal battle and is expected to give First Nations greater opportunities to catch and market salmon, cod, halibut, crab and other species.

The ruling is expected to lead to a new native market fishery, the form and scope of which will be negotiated between First Nations and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-first-nations-commercial-fishery-rights-cant- be-challenged-in-appeal-ruling/article16613104/?ref=https%3A%2F %2Fwww.theglobeandmail.com&service=mobile

Train to Churchill suspended after 'catastrophic' flood damage to track

OmniTrax says the future of the track could be in jeopardy, suspension could last until next spring

The only train to Churchill has been suspended until winter — maybe even next spring — and its future is in jeopardy after severe flooding damaged the tracks on the way to the northern Manitoba community.

The "unprecedented and catastrophic" damage will take months to repair, said Peter Touesnard, chief commercial officer at OmniTrax, the Denver-based owner of the rail line that brings supplies into Churchill.

28 "Until we are able to get people physically on the ground and do a proper inspection, it's difficult for us to truly know [how long repairs will take]," said Touesnard.

Churchill Mayor Mike Spence said it is a "disastrous" situation. The community of about 900 relies on tourism and the summer season — centred on beluga whales in the Churchill River — was just set to begin.

"We want to make sure that people know there is a tourist season," Spence said, adding that Calm Air has scheduled additional flights and reduced some of the transportation costs for goods to the community. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-churchill-rail-service-1.4154221

Council of Canadians condemns Wynne government giving green light to fracking in Ontario

The Ontario government recently made regulatory changes to the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act that open the door to fracking in Ontario. Schedule 23 of Bill 127, the Stronger, Healthier Ontario Act (Budget Measures) states: “The Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act is amended with respect to the regulation of compressed air energy storage projects prescribed by the regulations and of projects that involve the injection of substances into underground geological formations.” (emphasis added)

“The Wynne government must clarify the language in Schedule 23 of Bill 127 and implement a ban on fracking in the province of Ontario,” says Emma Lui, Water Campaigner with the Council of Canadians. “The Canadian government is currently being sued under NAFTA for almost $120 million for Quebec’s moratorium on fracking after companies had staked claims,” says Lui. “Next year, the Liberal government may well be replaced by the Conservatives. It must ban fracking now if it wants to protect drinking water.”

However, on May 17, the Liberal majority in the provincial legislature passed Bill 127 without stating that Schedule 23 does not apply to fracking.

29 Lead, oil, salt: Calgary's push for control over potentially hundreds of contaminated sites

Part of negotiations for new powers enshrined in a charter, city wants more say over land within its borders

A lone structure from its industrial past in the Inglewood Wildlands park. An oil refinery was once located on the site. There could be hundreds of contaminated sites in the city, but a hard number is hard to come by. (Drew Anderson/CBC)

It was March 1987 when the news first broke: Cucumbers were supposedly dying in a southeast Calgary greenhouse thanks to land left contaminated by an old oil refinery. Sheila Nichols can still remember hearing the reports on TV as she looked out her kitchen window at the glowing lights of the greenhouse and thought: "What about my infant daughter?"

Nichols lived in Lynnview Ridge, a then new development that became one of the best-known contaminated sites in Calgary, and one that's still being cleaned up all these years later. It's certainly not the only one.

The City of Calgary is currently managing 34 contaminated sites within its borders with $2.8 million set aside to fulfil its cleanup or monitoring obligations, according to documents obtained by CBC News. Additional funds help deal with landfills, and millions more have been set aside for Old Refinery Park, just below Lynnview Ridge.

There are potentially hundreds more sites within the city that, at least theoretically, are monitored and catalogued by the province. Many are in private hands, while the federal government is responsible for 13.

"We only know ones we've found. It goes back to the known unknowns and the unknown unknowns," said Trent Parks, the leader of environmental risk and liability at the city's environmental safety management department. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-contaminated-toxic-sites-cleanup-city-charters- 1.4150058

30 Rebel Media: From Promoting Tar Sands and Climate Denial to “Bigoted Lunatics”

Controversial Canadian commentator, Ezra Levant, used to try and sell the dirty Canadian tar sands to the world.

His 2010 book Ethical Oil was a brazen attempt to fight back against critics of the tar sands industry, by attempting to argue that buying oil from Canada instead of regimes such as Saudi Arabia, was in some way more “ethical”.

This argument was largely ridiculed at the time. I argued he was trying to “greenwash Mordor.” Matt Price, policy director of Environmental Defence, said simply: “So Ezra Levant thinks it’s somehow more ethical to replace dictator-supporting, planet-cooking oil with dictator-free tar sands oil that cooks the planet even faster?”

Another Canadian reviewer added: “Levant is a good writer and a better debater. He is witty, provocative and relentless in his sense of certainty …. He is also a master of logical fallacy and half- truth …. Just remember that being witty, provocative and relentless is not the same as being right.”

Years later, after the oil price largely plummeted and the debate about stranded assets sharpened the nervous minds of investors in the financially draining tar sands, Levant has diversified from trying to defend the indefensible part of the oil industry, to trying to defend pretty much anything else that normal people would see as indefensible.

However, reading or watching videos from someone like Levant, a man who used to sell cigarettes, should come with a health warning.

Not content with peddling oil he also peddles climate denial. He is a long term climate denier who sent so-called journalists to disrupt the UN climate change talks in Marrakesh last year. The Rebel site also hosts as a commentator Dr. Tim Ball, a long-term climate denier, who writes articles such as “How the world was deceived about global warming and climate change.”

And even for someone as controversial as Levant, he has now reached an all-time low.

In recent months, Rebel Media has set up a UK arm and is now employing Tommy Robinson, the co- founder of the far right, English Defence League, as a commentator.

Robinson, who has a history of far right activism, and who has been labelled the UK’s most hated man, has been jailed for assault and fraud. He left The EDL, which has a history of violence, bigotry and racism, several years ago, but he is still causing controversy. http://priceofoil.org/2017/06/24/rebel-media-from-promoting-tar-sands-and-climate-denial-to-bigoted- lunatics/

31 Other News

5 officials indicted on manslaughter charges over Flint water crisis

Michigan’s attorney general has filed new, more serious charges of involuntary manslaughter against five officials in the Flint Water Crisis investigation, among them the head of Michigan’s health department.

Heath chief Nick Lyon was charged with two felonies, involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office, for failing to alert the public about an outbreak in Legionnaires’ disease in the Flint area, according to AP.

Some experts linked the outbreak to poor water quality during the height of water crisis in 2014-15. Nearly 100 people were affected during the Legionnaires outbreak, 12 of whom died.

“Mr. Lyon failed in his responsibility to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Flint,” Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette told reporters on Wednesday about charges that are moving closer than ever to Governor Rick Snyder.

“After being informed of the growing Legionnaires outbreak in Flint, Nick Lyon failed to inform the public of this health threat. A threat that cost of the life of Robert Skidmore.” https://www.rt.com/usa/392293-5-officials-flint-indicted-manslaughter/

EPA just gave notice to dozens of scientific advisory board members that their time is up

The Environmental Protection Agency has given notice to dozens of scientists that they will not be renewed in their roles in advising the agency, continuing a scientific shake-up that has already triggered resignations and charges from some researchers that the administration is politicizing the agency.

Members of the EPA’s Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) whose terms end in August will not see them renewed, according to an email sent to members and obtained by The Washington Post, though they can reapply for their posts. Moreover, five meetings of subcommittees of the board, planned for the late summer and the fall, will now be canceled because of lack of membership. They will be held once the board is reconstituted, according to EPA officials.

“It effectively wipes out the BOSC and leaves it free for a complete reappointment,” said Deborah Swackhamer, the current chair of the board’s executive committee and an emeritus professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/06/20/trump-administration-to- decline-to-renew-dozens-of-scientists-for-key-epa-advisory-board/?utm_term=.57e7225bee6c

32 Water

Is Brian Gallant's Government dismantling our water protection behind closed doors?

After 4 hours of waiting in the lobby of the Department of Environment and Local Government, it was clear that my written request to Minister Serge Rousselle to attend the March 14th meeting of the Water Strategy Working Group would not be granted. And when I spoke with Environment official Lesley Rogers that morning, she confirmed that there would be no transcripts of these meetings.

The previous day, Deputy Minister Kelli Simmonds responded by e-mail, without cc to the Minister, that the members of the Working Group were already set and that "it would not be appropriate for you to attend the working group meetings". I will keep asking for a written answer from the Minister to explain this decision. Council of Canadians is recognized across this country as a leading advocate for the protection of fresh water. Certainly a representative from our Fredericton chapter should not be turned away from the above meeting.

This raises many troubling questions:

Why would we dismantle a water testing and water classification program when that work has already been done and recognized as a world-class strategy? This program already represented 25 years of government work, $7.3 million of Environmental Trust Fund projects to 19 watershed groups across New Brunswick, tens of thousands of volunteer hours, and requisite work completed on a minimum of 4 watersheds.

Why would we do away with river insect larvae sampling when this is a widely-used, scientifically- accepted method, and a community-based and cost-effective approach, to detect point source and non- point source pollution?

Is this dismantling putting our drinking water and communities at risk?

Is this dismantling paving the way for large-scale projects such as Energy East, Sisson Brook, the massive clearcutting of our forests (1), and the widespread glyphosate spraying used to turn the clearcuts into monoculture softwood plantations? https://canadians.org/blog/brian-gallants-government-dismantling-our-water-protection-behind-closed- doors#.WT_3XXZnNjc.facebook

5 officials indicted on manslaughter charges over Flint water crisis

Some experts linked the outbreak to poor water quality during the height of water crisis in 2014-15. Nearly 100 people were affected during the Legionnaires outbreak, 12 of whom died.

33 “Mr. Lyon failed in his responsibility to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Flint,” Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette told reporters on Wednesday about charges that are moving closer than ever to Governor Rick Snyder.

Why 'hydro-politics' will shape the 21st century

In the Middle East, the Jordan River basin is the primary water source for many regions, including Jordan, Palestine, and Israel, regions of long-standing political tensions. In Syria, meanwhile, the worst drought in close to a millennium has been partly blamed for the country’s generation-defining civil war and radicalisation that led to the formation of so-called Islamic State.

Egypt and Ethiopia have sparred over development of water from the River Nile for centuries: the iconic river originates in Ethiopia but ends in Egypt, which sets up an inherently combative relationship. In 2015, Egypt and Ethiopia put enough differences aside to construct the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the river, which is Africa’s largest dam and is due to open in July. The countries also signed a deal that strives to ensure fair river access.

Tata points to many developed or emerging markets that have had similar challenges: “Take the example of Malaysia’s 99-year deal with Singapore, giving them paid access to fresh water from the Johor River,” Tata says. “Singapore is arguably one of the most progressive nations on our planet, but without sufficient fresh water resources within its boundaries, all industry, trade, commerce and culture would all stand still." http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170615-why-hydro-politics-will-shape-the-21st-century

Information Morning - Moncton, Michael Premo - "Water Warriors"

American director Michael Premo talks about the short movie "Water Warriors", a film about the fight against fracking in New Brunswick. http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/965383235530

34 Fracking and Earthquakes

35 Oil and Pipelines

Financial firms lead shareholder rebellion against ExxonMobil climate change policies

ExxonMobil management was defeated Wednesday by a shareholder rebellion over climate change, as investors with 62.3 percent of shares voted to instruct the oil giant to report on the impact of global measures designed to keep climate change to 2 degrees centigrade.

The shareholder rebellion at the ExxonMobil annual meeting in Dallas was led by major financial advisory firms and fund managers who traditionally have played passive roles. Although the identity of voters wasn’t disclosed, a source familiar with the vote said that major financial advisory firm BlackRock had cast its shares in opposition to Exxon management and that Vanguard and State Street had likely done the same. All three financial giants have been openly considering casting their votes against management on this key proxy resolution. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/05/31/exxonmobil-is-trying-to- fend-off-a-shareholder-rebellion-over-climate-change/?tid=ss_fb&utm_term=.fbf727829ae0

CSIS report on Trans Mountain describes ‘violent confrontations’ over resource development

TORONTO — A newly released intelligence assessment of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion describes “violent confrontations” that have occurred over recent resource development projects.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service produced the “secret” report 10 days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau approved the twinning of the Trans Mountain pipeline between Alberta and B.C.

The “key assessments” were cut from a declassified version released under the Access to Information Act, but the focus on the pipeline shows intelligence officials weighed its security implications.

The report chronicles allegations of sabotage, burglary, trespassing, mischief and the torching of vehicles at protests against resource projects in New Brunswick and North Dakota.

Climate Direct Action (CDA) appears repeatedly in the Intelligence Assessment, which said the U.S. eco-group had targeted Canadian-owned pipelines in four “actions,” as well as Trans Mountain’s American owner, Kinder Morgan.

“Messaging from the CDA and other alternative media outlets highlight the need to prevent ‘dirty’ Canadian oil from entering the U.S.,” according to the report, titled Construction of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. http://news.nationalpost.com/news/csis-report-on-trans-mountain-pipeline-describes-violent- confrontations-over-resource-development

TigerSwan's Corporate Mercenaries Track Protesters Like "Jihadists"

Mercenary corporation TigerSwan (formerly Blackwater) is making a list, and you might be on it. Cenk Uygur, host of The Young Turks, breaks it down. Tell us what you think in the comment section below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCsMm2sFwbM

36 Line 3 Is the Next Dakota Access Pipeline. Here’s What You Need to Know.

Oil is scheduled to begin flowing through the Dakota Access Pipeline today. Some might think June 1 marks a final nail in the coffin of the anti-Dakota Access movement that began on the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in 2016 and spread around the world. But the global, indigenous-led movement to protect water and land is just getting started.

In January, President Trump revived TransCanada’s infamous Keystone XL Pipeline that the Cowboy Indian Alliance of Native communities, landowners, and environmentalists defeated during the Obama administration. As a showdown brews between TransCanada and Nebraska landowners over the fate of Keystone XL, to the east, Native communities are preparing to take a stand against the lesser known Line 3 Pipeline in Minnesota.

Line 3 would replace, reroute, and increase capacity for an existing pipeline, which runs over 1,000 miles from the Canadian tar sands in Hardisty, Alberta, to Superior, Wisconsin. If completed, Line 3 would be the largest project in Enbridge Energy Partners’ history, costing an estimated $7.5 billion— significantly more than Dakota Access. The pipeline could carry up to 760,000 barrels per day, or roughly 32 million gallons—a greater volume of oil than both Dakota Access and Keystone XL. http://fusion.kinja.com/line-3-is-the-next-dakota-access-pipeline-here-s-what-1795699601? utm_campaign=socialflow_fusion_facebook&utm_source=fusion_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

Report: Application Incomplete

Transcanada Fails To Say How The Energy East Pipeline Would Cross Major Canadian Rivers

An analysis of TransCanada’s application to the National Energy Board (NEB) panel reviewing Energy East reveals that the application is missing critical details on how the proposed pipeline would cross major Canadian rivers, including the Ottawa, Saint Lawrence and Assiniboine Rivers, among numerous other information gaps.

Even a short duration spill from the Energy East pipeline has the potential to release large quantities of crude oil into the environment and cause substantial harm to ecosystems, human health, and downstream communities. Given the estimated 1.1 million barrels of per day that would flow through the proposed 4,600 km pipeline, it is alarming that crucial details of how the pipeline would cross major rivers are missing from the application to build Energy East.

Without this vital river crossing information, it’s clear that the Energy East application is still incomplete, and that the NEB must not begin to evaluate the costs and benefits of the proposed pipeline. The clock should not start ticking on the NEB’s Energy East review process until TransCanada has provided details about how they intend to cross these rivers. http://environmentaldefence.ca/report/application-incomplete/

The report http://environmentaldefence.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Energy-East- RiverCrossings_Report_FINAL.pdf

37 Big business wants to nix climate from regulator's Energy East review

Canada's largest corporations want to stop a federal panel from investigating how a cross-country oil pipeline would contribute to global warming.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and other industry stakeholders raised their objections in a series of letters sent to Canada's pipeline regulator, the National Energy Board (NEB), over the past few weeks.

The complaints are the latest in a saga of controversies that have plagued the Calgary-based TransCanada Corp.'s Energy East oil pipeline, the largest project of its kind ever to be proposed in North America.

In a newly-released letter, TransCanada's legal team argues that the new proposal from the NEB, made necessary because of conflict of interest allegations, isn't fair.

Lawyers wrote that an analysis of greenhouse gas emissions for the proposed 4,500-kilometre Energy East pipeline would be "completely redundant and unnecessary," given that such analysis falls within the purview of the federal government. The details are in the Canadian government's Interim Measures for Pipeline Reviews, they said.

In the letter dated May 17, they further argued that NEB panelists have previously declined to consider upstream emissions in their review of pipeline projects, and the NEB "strives to achieve continuity, consistency and a degree of predictability."

"There has been no change in law or government policy or regulatory policy that would justify departing from the previously stated (and judicially endorsed) approach to dealing with upstream and downstream GHG emissions," the lawyers wrote. http://www.nationalobserver.com/2017/06/01/news/big-business-wants-nix-climate-regulators-energy- east-review

Enbridge was violating Line 5 easement for years, documents show

State and federal documents indicate that for years the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac was out of compliance with easement rules that govern how far the twin pipes can span the lake bottom unsupported.

Although Enbridge's 1953 easement with the state of Michigan specifies the pipeline must have anchor supports across any gaps in the lakebed span greater than 75 feet, a 2003 survey identified 16 unsupported spans greater than 140 feet, with the longest being 224 feet on the east pipe and 286 feet on the west pipe.

The 286-foot unsupported span was nearly four times the allowable length.

The unsupported spans were identified in an October 2016 engineering report prepared by Kiefner & Associates for Enbridge as part of its negotiated settlement with the federal government over the 2010 Kalamazoo River oil spill.

38 Line 5 inspection reports submitted to a state pipeline board also document nearly 250 instances between 2005 and the most recent inspection in 2016 where unsupported spans on the twin lines have exceeded the 75-foot mark.

Enbridge says it has anchored all previously unsupported spans, but critics say the damage may already be done and that allowing such unsupported span lengths to go unattended for years may have irrevocably compromised the structural integrity of the pipeline, which carries light crude oil and natural gas liquids. http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/06/line_5_unsupported_spans.html#incart_river_index

Private Mercenary Firm TigerSwan Compares Anti-DAPL Water Protectors to "Jihadist Insurgency"

An explosive new investigation by The Intercept reveals how international private security firm TigerSwan targeted Dakota Access water protectors with military-style counterterrorism measures.

TigerSwan began as a U.S. military and State Department contractor. It was hired by Energy Transfer Partners, the company behind the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline.

The investigation is based on leaked internal documents, which show how TigerSwan collaborated closely with law enforcement agencies to surveil and target the nonviolent indigenous-led movement. In the documents, TigerSwan also repeatedly calls the water protectors "insurgents" and the movement an "ideologically driven insurgency."

We are joined by Alleen Brown, reporter with The Intercept and co-author of their story, "Leaked Documents Reveal Counterterrorism Tactics Used at Standing Rock to Defeat Pipeline Insurgencies," and by Tara Houska, national campaigns director for Honor the Earth. She is Ojibwe from Couchiching First Nation. https://www.democracynow.org/2017/5/31/private_mercenary_firm_tigerswan_compares_anti

Indigenous engagement on Energy East to be the focus of new 4-person NEB team

Group looks to gather oral traditional evidence and feedback through contemporary online means

The National Energy Board is dedicating a four-person team to make contact with Indigenous people and the general public about the Energy East pipeline over the next six weeks.

The team will work independently from the hearing panel that is leading the regulatory assessment of Energy East.

Its main goal will be to "engage with many of the more than 200 groups of Indigenous peoples who may be impacted by the projects," the NEB said Monday in a release.

39 • Damien Côté — Chief operating officer of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and former executive director of the Nunavut Water Board. • Wilma Jacknife — A lawyer with more than 15 years experience specializing in First Nations governance and various aspects of Indigenous law. • Ronald Durelle — A former assistant deputy minister in various New Brunswick government departments relating to health and the environment. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/national-energy-board-indigenous-energy-east-team- 1.4146521

Energy East consultation on hearing design will focus on Indigenous voices

Canada's federal pipeline regulator is seeking public feedback on how to conduct hearings on the proposed Energy East pipeline, and it hopes to hear from Indigenous people in particular.

On Monday, the National Energy Board (NEB) launched a public consultation process to design hearings on the controversial project, after months of accusations that the previous hearings were tainted by panel member bias. Those hearings were stopped in their tracks in September last year, and the entire process started virtually from scratch with a brand new panel in January.

Now, the public has until July 15 to weigh in on the shape of fresh hearings, using an online portal. Four board members — independent from the panel that will review the Energy East pipeline application — have also been appointed to conduct in-person meetings with Indigenous people.

“The four Board Members hope to engage with many of the more than 200 groups of indigenous peoples who may be impacted by the projects,” said an NEB statement on June 5. “One of the key aspects of these discussions will be to identify the best ways to collect oral traditional evidence.” http://www.nationalobserver.com/2017/06/05/news/energy-east-consultation-hearing-design-will-focus- indigenous-voices

Ohio judge orders state police to release North Dakota records

An Ohio court upheld a previous ruling that the Ohio State Highway Patrol improperly withheld records specifying the names of troopers sent to North Dakota to help local law enforcement with protests over an oil pipeline there.

The Enquirer in January requested the names of the 37 officers deployed to North Dakota.

North Dakota was the site of several violent clashes last year between Native American protesters and law enforcement over the building of a new pipeline through sites considered to be religious by local tribes.

Protesters were also concerned about the possible impact of the Dakota Access pipeline on the local water supply.

State officials denied The Enquirer's request filed under the Ohio Open Records Act, as well as requests for internal communications about the deployment.

40 Previously a special master ruled that the state should turn over the names of the troopers, but that the request for the communications was "too broad." http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/your-watchdog/2017/06/05/ohio-judge-orders-state-police- release-north-dakota-records/370247001/

Graph: More Than Enough

Under Alberta’s oil sands emissions cap (set at 100 million tonnes per year), growth in oil sands production would be limited to 45% over 2014 levels. There is already more than enough existing pipeline and rail capacity to handle that capacity. The additional pipelines being lobbied for by industry and governments are not necessary. http://www.corporatemapping.ca/graph-more-than-enough/

Can Canada Expand Oil and Gas Production, Build Pipelines and Keep Its Climate Change Commitments?

Under the Paris Agreement, Canada has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. This study assesses the consequences of several scenarios of expansion

41 in the oil and gas sector in terms of the amount that the non–oil and gas sectors of the economy would need to reduce emissions to meet Canada’s Paris commitments. It finds Canada cannot meet its global climate commitments while at the same time ramping up oil and gas extraction and building new export pipelines.

The study also reviews existing pipeline and rail capacity for oil exports under the cap on oil sands emissions announced last year by the Alberta government (set at 100 million tonnes (Mt) per year) and finds Canada has enough capacity to handle the 45% increase in oil sand production this would entail. It also takes a close look at oil price trends, and finds that new pipelines with tidewater access are unlikely to confer a significant price premium, as is widely believed. http://www.corporatemapping.ca/can-canada-expand-oil-and-gas-production-build-pipelines-and-keep- its-climate-change-commitments/

The study http://www.corporatemapping.ca/wp- content/uploads/2016/07/Can_Canada_Expand_Oil_and_Gas_Production.pdf

Poland receives first shipment of American liquefied natural gas

The first US tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) has arrived in the Polish port of Swinoujscie. American LNG is expected to compete in Europe with natural gas piped from Russia and Qatari LNG. “The Department of State has worked closely with European partners to diversify European energy supplies through new sources of natural gas, vital interconnectors and new facilities to import LNG. The United States congratulates Poland on this significant step to diversify its own sources of energy and to strengthen Europe’s energy security,” Washington said in a statement.

While Europe has been trying to find alternatives to Russian gas, the cost of shipping from the US remains high and demands significant infrastructure investment.

The LNG shipped to Poland is from the Sabine Pass liquefaction facility on the Gulf of Mexico coast. As of now, it is the only LNG exporting facility in the US since the start of the shale revolution. Last year, the first delivery of American LNG to Europe arrived in Portugal. https://www.rt.com/business/391377-us-lng-shipment-poland/

Charest smiles after Energy East question on Montreal red carpet

Former Quebec premier Jean Charest is still refusing to answer media questions about a private meeting he had in January 2015 with members of Canada's federal energy regulator, while he was under contract for a major Canadian energy company.

It's been nearly a year since National Observer published the first piece in an award-winning investigative series that eventually became known as 'The Charest Affair,' revealing that Charest gave members of the National Energy Board (NEB) political advice about how to build public support for a pipeline project application they had been assigned to review objectively.

42 At the time, Charest was working for Calgary-based TransCanada Corp., and the NEB was assessing TransCanada's 4,500-kilometre Energy East pipeline proposal. Their meeting in January 2015 raised concern among watchdogs and environmentalists that NEB panelists were in a conflict of interest and their review of the pipeline would be biased.

One of the emails obtained by National Observer indicated that Charest's executive assistant — from his law firm — contacted Board member Jacques Gauthier using the NEB member's personal email address. A separate email also revealed that Gauthier personally invited the former premier to discuss the Energy East project at the private meeting.

Gauthier has said he wasn't aware Charest was working for TransCanada at the time of the January 2015 meeting. Since the scandal was made public in July last year, the NEB shut down the hearings on the controversial pipeline, and the entire process was restarted virtually from scratch after the appointment of a new panel.

While participating in a variety of interviews over the last year on trade, foreign policy and other subjects, Charest has never answered questions about the scandal surrounding his involvement with the NEB and the Energy East pipeline. In a similar vein, TransCanada has declined to answer questions about whether any of its employees were informed about Charest's meeting. But in a recent legal submission to the NEB, the pipeline company has objected to the current panel's proposal to consider the climate change impacts of the project and complained that the new process is unfair.

Charest's latest silence comes less than a month after the NEB announced that it would not hold a public inquiry into 'The Charest Affair,' and that all documents related to Charest's meeting with panel members would be kept a secret. http://www.nationalobserver.com/2017/06/07/news/charest-smiles-after-energy-east-question-montreal- red-carpet

Environmental and Indigenous groups demand banks avoid supporting Trans Mountain expansion

A letter demands that CEOs of major banks should avoid supporting Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain expansion over human rights and climate change concerns

Over two dozen environmental and Indigenous groups sent a letter to the CEOs of 14 major Canadian and international banks this week, demanding that they refrain from funding Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.

“We call on your institutions to avoid financing Indigenous rights abuses and climate change,” it says. “In order to future-proof against involvement in these controversial, climate-wrecking pipelines, as well as the massively destructive extraction projects that feed them, we urge you to exit completely from the tarsands sector.”

The document, which includes signatures from Greenpeace, Sierra Club and Tsleil-Waututh Nation, among others, is in response to a section of the company’s initial public offering prospectus, released late last month, which states that “underwritten bank commitments are currently in place for the [b]usiness to establish” a $5.5 billion credit facility — an ostensible loan, in other words.

43 https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/06/08/environmental-and-indigenous-groups-demand- banks-avoid-supporting-trans-mountain-expansion.html Christy Clark’s Dangerous Site C Propaganda War

Politics and propaganda have never been strangers to one another, but what’s happening to political discourse around the world right now is cause for concern. Case in point: B.C. Premier Christy Clark’s recent letter on the Site C dam, addressed to NDP Leader John Horgan and Green Leader Andrew Weaver.

The letter follows on the heels of Horgan’s request for BC Hydro to hold off on evictions and signing new contracts until after the B.C. Utilities Commission can review the costs and demand for the most expensive project in B.C.’s history.

Horgan’s letter wasn’t addressed to Clark, but she found it in herself to reply anyway.

Her letter includes the unsubstantiated claim that delaying the eviction of two families in the Peace Valley may come at a risk of a “$600 million cost increase to Site C” — a figure that Harry Swain, the man who chaired the review of Site C for the federal and provincial governments, has called “preposterous.” https://www.desmog.ca/2017/06/07/christy-clark-s-dangerous-site-c-propaganda-war

Is the Site C dam’s electricity destined for LNG Industry?

The joint review panel assessing the Site C dam concluded that, although there will be an increasing need for power in the future and Site C is likely to be the most cost-effective option, BC Hydro failed to prove that the new energy would be needed within the timeframe set out in the proposal.

“The panel concludes that the proponent has not fully demonstrated the need for the projects on the timetable set forth,” says the report submitted this month to the federal and provincial governments.

The panel makes it clear that federal and provincial government decision-makers need to be sure the power is needed before giving the go-ahead. http://www.ammsa.com/publications/windspeaker/site-c-dam%E2%80%99s-electricity-destined-lng- industry

Site C Dam: A $10 Billion Taxpayer Subsidy for LNG, Fracking

Clark confirmed her vision for powering a new, much-ballyhooed Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Industry to Global TV last week (a must-watch). The premier has promised in recent months a $100 Billion windfall of provincial revenues from the yet-to-be-developed LNG industry, a boast which has drawn justified ridicule from pundits.

LNG requires enormous amounts of energy to super-cool gas in order to liquefy it and load it onto tankers. Numerous global energy companies – including Shell, Chevron, and a number of big Asian players – have lined up over the past year to build LNG plants in Kitimat and Prince Rupert, in order to access Asian markets which are currently paying significantly more for gas than the North American market.

44 http://commonsensecanadian.ca/site-c-dam-a-10-billion-taxpayer-subsidy-for-lng-fracking/ Stand.earth Challenges Accuracy of Kinder Morgan IPO

Vancouver, BC - Environmental group Stand.earth has filed a formal request that Canadian securities regulators investigate the the accuracy of the prospectus for the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Kinder Morgan Limited, whose primary asset would be the the proposed Trans Mountain Pipeline which will run from Edmonton to Burnaby.

The focus of Stand’s complaint is that Kinder Morgan’s prospectus claims that there is potential for significant future expansion of the amount of oil shipped to the Puget Sound Pipeline which crosses the border near Abbotsford and runs to refineries in Whatcom and Skagit Counties near Ferndale and Anacortes respectively. However, Whatcom County has recently placed a ban on new fossil fuel export infrastructure. It seems likely that the expansions discussed by Kinder Morgan would require local permits which these rules appear to preclude.

“The people of Whatcom County have clearly said that they do not want their community to be turned into a highway for unrefined fossil fuels” said Alex Ramel, Extreme Oil Field Director, for Stand.earth and based in Bellingham “but Kinder Morgan seems to be ignoring the decision of our democratically elected County Council.”

Stand.earth is not the only environmental group to challenge Kinder Morgan’s IPO, Greenpeace Canada has also submitted a complaint to regulators stating that the prospectus was based on outdated projections “that could potentially mislead investors by portraying an overly optimistic view of the international oil market.” https://www.stand.earth/latest/standearth-challenges-accuracy-kinder-morgan-ipo

Carr: Canada would consider Chinese investment proposals for oilsands

As Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr explores avenues in China to expand foreign investment in the oilsands, his government is being accused of allowing Chinese takeovers of Canadian firms with little regard for national security. Carr is on a five−day trade mission to China, pursuing partnerships and new markets for the energy and forestry sectors. The trip comes as the two countries pursue exploratory free trade talks, and the federal Liberals adjust their foreign policy to confront the headwinds of Donald Trump’s "America First" doctrine.

Carr’s message? Canada welcomes Chinese investment, including in the oilsands, he told a conference call from Beijing — a departure from the previous Conservative policy of keeping state−owned−enterprises out of Canada’s energy sector.

"We think there is opportunity and we laid out along with experts from the industry what we believe to be Canadian opportunities for them," Carr said. "Chinese investors are no different than investors from anywhere else. They look at costs they look at prices and they make their investment decisions."

In 2012, after the China National Offshore Oil Corp. was allowed to buy Calgary−based Nexen Inc., then−prime minister Stephen Harper said SEOs investing in the oilsands would only be approve in exceptional circumstances, fearing foreign government influence inconsistent with Canadian policy.

45 http://www.nationalobserver.com/2017/06/08/news/carr-canada-would-consider-chinese-investment- proposals-oilsands March over the Nashwaak River to highlight the secrecy and risks of the Energy East tar sands pipeline project

A march will be held on Saturday, June 10th in Fredericton across the Nashwaak River, 1:00pm- 1:45pm. Starting at 1:00pm, people will meet at the gravel parking area beside 955 Union Street (borders the Nashwaak River and is just below the overpass of the Walking Train Bridge), and then march across the trail bridge over the Nashwaak River.

This march is part of the ‘Hands Across The Water’ events held in June along the proposed tar sands Energy East pipeline route in New Brunswick. This event is organized by the Fredericton chapter of the Council of Canadians.

“New Brunswick and Indigenous communities have been left in the dark about the route and the risks of the Energy East tar sands pipeline project,” says Mark D’Arcy with the Council of Canadians – Fredericton chapter. “Since 2014, there have been no public meetings (except one in Edmundston over the pipeline risk to their drinking water), no Provincial Environmental Impact Assessment, no community notices along the pipeline route, and no readable maps.”

“Since 2015, both the City of Fredericton and the Council of Canadians – Fredericton chapter have asked TransCanada to hold a public meeting for Fredericton residents and conduct a spill modelling study of a tar sands bitumen pipeline spill into the Nashwaak River,” says Mark D’Arcy. “We are still waiting two years later.” http://nbmediacoop.org/2017/06/09/march-over-the-nashwaak-river-to-highlight-the-secrecy-and-risks- of-the-energy-east-tar-sands-pipeline-project/

Is Energy East a bad deal for Canadians?

In 2014, TransCanada proposed the Energy East pipeline project. If built, the pipeline would stretch 4,600 km across Canada, connecting the Western tar sands to an export terminal in Eastern Canada. Energy East is the largest tar sands pipeline ever proposed with a functional capacity of over one million barrels per day. The project involves both the construction of new pipe and the converting of existing natural gas pipe into a crude oil transporter.

The proposed pipeline project has not gone unnoticed by Canadian environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) like Environmental Defence (ED). ED has published reports commenting on the proposed pipeline’s environmental effects and the rationale behind the pipeline, whose oil is destined for export.(1) CELA is acting for ED in the Energy East proceedings before the National Energy Board (NEB).

The ecological impact and viability of the project has not been the only topic of controversy. As a result of concerns about real or perceived bias, and controversy undermining the perception of impartiality of the Energy East review panel, all three panel members recused themselves, adjourning further review hearings until new membership was established.

In January of 2017, three new members were appointed by the NEB to undertake a review of the Energy East project. The new panel immediately voided all decisions made by the previous panel – entirely restarting the review process.

46 (FAQ regarding the “restarting” of the process can be found here.) Since the original application by TransCanada was submitted in 2014, political and public opinion on carbon emissions has shifted significantly. Most notably, Canada has ratified the Paris Climate Agreement and created a national climate framework to reduce emissions, including but not limited to a coal phase out, carbon pricing, and clean fuel standard. http://www.cela.ca/blog/2017-06-08/is-energy-east-bad-deal-for-canadians

Natural Resources Canada - How Canada’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Industry Affects You

LNG in Canada remains a promising opportunity not only for investors but for Canadians at large https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/19725? utm_content=buffer7b39c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

What to do if you find these pink tags in a Kenora, Ont.-area waterway

Transition Initiative Kenora to drop 200 tags in Winnipeg River June 20 to simulate spread of oil

Boaters on waterways near Kenora, Ont. may come across some bright pink wooden tags in the water this summer, and a community climate change advocacy group wants you to let them know where they are found.

On June 20, representatives with Transition Initiative Kenora will drop 200 sealed wooden "drift cards" into the Winnipeg River near Kenora at the site where the proposed Energy East pipeline would cross the waterway.

"It's a technique that's used to track the flow of contaminants in bodies of water," Teika Newton, the executive director of Transition Initiative Kenora told CBC News.

"We'll be tracking the flow of those cards down the river to see how quickly they move, how far they move, where they wash up on shore and to get a better sense of the dynamics of the river system." http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/drift-card-study-winnipeg-river-1.4151449

Fredericton chapter & allies march against the Energy East pipeline

The Council of Canadians Fredericton chapter marched against the proposed Energy East pipeline yesterday afternoon.

Global News reports, "Opposition to the proposed Energy East Pipeline has taken to the streets once again in New Brunswick. A 'Hands Across the Water' event was held Saturday in Fredericton. Organized by the Fredericton chapter of the Council of Canadians, about 100 people marched to the Nashwaak River on the city’s north side."

That news article quotes two chapter activists: Lynaya Astephen (who is with the Saint John chapter) says, “It goes through about 300 waterways in New Brunswick alone and about 800 or so in Quebec. A

47 group of us from New Brunswick actually were in Quebec last week to bring awareness to the pipeline.” And Mark D'Arcy (with the Fredericton chapter) notes, “TransCanada and the governments have not been forthcoming with public meetings. Without proper maps. Without provincial environmental impact assessments."

Global News highlights, "First Nations communities have been at the forefront of the issue in New Brunswick. Wolastoq Grand Council Grand Chief Ron Tremblay says although the National Energy Board public hearings have not been scheduled yet, he will be there as an intervenor. 'We have strong oral traditions and oral stories about our waters and our creation story that goes along with our territory so we are going to present to the NEB board and we are going to be very firm with them and say No'." https://canadians.org/blog/fredericton-chapter-allies-march-against-energy-east-pipeline

Irving Oil opposes new assessment criteria for Energy East pipeline

Irving said project will not influence greenhouse gas emissions

Irving Oil is asking the National Energy Board to not adopt two new criteria for its environmental assessment of the Energy East pipeline.

In a letter to the NEB, Irving said the board should not consider the pipeline's effect on marine traffic in the Bay of Fundy and on "downstream emissions" caused by end users of gas and other petroleum products.

The company said its customers will use "relatively the same" amount of fuel, and produce the same level of greenhouse gas emissions, whether Irving-refined oil comes through the Energy East pipeline from Alberta or from other sources in the U.S. or overseas.

"The scale of downstream GHG emissions will not be influenced by the Project," said the May 31 letter from Andy Carson, the company's director of growth and strategy. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/irving-energy-east-oil-pipeline-energy-board-hearing- 1.4159455

In Victory for Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Court Finds That Approval of Dakota Access Pipeline Violated the Law

Victory: Ruling: Trump administration shortcut environmental review; Court seeks additional briefing on whether to shut down pipeline

Washington, D.C. — The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe won a significant victory today in its fight to protect the Tribe’s drinking water and ancestral lands from the Dakota Access pipeline.

A federal judge ruled that the federal permits authorizing the pipeline to cross the Missouri River just upstream of the Standing Rock reservation, which were hastily issued by the Trump administration just days after the inauguration, violated the law in certain critical respects.

48 In a 91-page decision, Judge James Boasberg wrote, “the Court agrees that [the Corps] did not adequately consider the impacts of an oil spill on fishing rights, hunting rights, or environmental justice, or the degree to which the pipeline’s effects are likely to be highly controversial.” The Court did not determine whether pipeline operations should be shut off and has requested additional briefing on the subject and a status conference next week. http://earthjustice.org/news/press/2017/in-victory-for-standing-rock-sioux-tribe-court-finds-that-approval- of-dakota-access-pipeline-violated-the-law

Energy East pipeline review may look at broader climate impacts

Including upstream and downstream GHG emissions would be a good start, but can’t stop there

The National Energy Board’s review of TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline has had more than a few hiccups along the way. Take for example the revelation of secret closed-door industry meetings and the allegations of bias that led to the entire National Energy Board’s panel reviewing the project stepping down last September.

In January the newly appointed panel voided all prior decisions, sending the process back to square one and appointing a new panel. With that black mark behind it, the Board recently announced it would be taking public input on the issues it should consider as part of its review.

It’s especially interested in hearing about the issue of the pipeline’s broader environmental effects, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Specifically, the panel is considering looking at the GHG emissions from increased oil production upstream of the pipeline and increased oil combustion downstream of the pipeline.

These GHG emissions are potentially huge. It is estimated that the Energy East pipeline could result in 32 million tonnes of upstream GHG emissions a year and a larger amount would result from downstream combustion — downstream emissions are where 89 per cent of GHGs come into play (like in the case of the Kinder Morgan project). https://www.ecojustice.ca/energy-east-pipeline-review-may-look-broader-climate-impacts/

How Plastic Bottles Benefit ExxonMobil

The production of plastics now accounts for 6 percent to 8 percent of all oil consumption globally.

America has a dangerous and deadly addiction to plastic. If recent trends in New York State are any indication, it’s not going away anytime soon, thanks in part to multi-million-dollar lobbying by the plastic manufacturing industry. Yet the recent showdown over plastic bag fees in the Empire State shows the unwillingness of even climate-committed states to curb their plastics, and thus petroleum, consumption.

New York State had been on the front lines of state-based climate action, competing with California to cut emissions. Both states had committed to 50 percent renewable energy goals by 2030. But in shutting down New York City’s attempt to curtail consumption of single-use plastic bags and institute a simple 5-cent fee, New York State legislators showed a clear unwillingness to lead on sustainability.

49 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-plastic-bottles-benefit- exxonmobil_us_58c18ed9e4b070e55af9ec62

Coalition urges banks to shun financing for Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain

A coalition of interest groups is calling on Canada's six biggest banks and others to back away from providing funding for Kinder Morgan Canada's controversial Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

The coalition of 20 indigenous and environmental groups says in an open letter that it will use its influence to urge local and foreign governments to divest from banks that ignore its opposition to the pipeline.

It names a total of 28 banks as potential targets for its campaign, including 14 that underwrote the recent initial public offering for Kinder Morgan Canada.

The 14 underwriters included all of Canada's biggest banks as well as others from the United States, European Union and Japan. http://www.nationalobserver.com/2017/06/12/news/coalition-urges-banks-shun-financing-kinder- morgans-trans-mountain

This lonely drifting tanker carrying 2 million barrels nobody wants to buy sums up global oil’s struggle

Until a few days ago, the 330-meter-long tanker, chartered by Royal Dutch Shell, was steaming at 13 knots toward the Chinese port of Tianjin after loading a two-million-barrel cargo of North Sea oil at the Hound Point terminal near Edinburgh. Then, it suddenly stopped in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.

Its problem: China isn’t buying much crude right now, leaving the tanker searching for a customer. While the vessel was floating near Africa last week, Shell offered to sell the cargo in a ship-to-ship transfer all the way back in Scotland. There weren’t any takers.

Across the world, the plight of the Saiq, now idling off the coast of Mauritania, reflects a broader trend in the physical oil market. After six months of oil-production cuts from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and 11 non-OPEC nations led by Russia, crude supply is, surprisingly, still plentiful, according to traders.

“It’s a buyer’s market,” said Olivier Jakob, managing director of Swiss-based consultant Petromatrix GmbH, echoing a widely held view in the physical market.

On paper, global supply and demand balances from the likes of the International Energy Agency say the market should be reducing stockpiles. Oil prices, however, suggest that any inventory reduction remains minimal. The headline price for Brent crude, the global benchmark, is below $50 a barrel, indicating buyers are on the sidelines. http://www.vancouversun.com/this+lonely+drifting+tanker+carrying+million+barrels+nobody+wants+su ms+opec/13447268/story.html

50 Pipeline to the classroom: how big oil promotes fossil fuels to America's children

Documents show how tightly woven group of pro-industry organizations target impressionable schoolchildren and teachers desperate for resources This story was a collaboration between the Center for Public Integrity and StateImpact Oklahoma, a reporting project of NPR member stations in Oklahoma.

Jennifer Merritt’s first graders at Jefferson elementary school in Pryor, Oklahoma, were in for a treat. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, the students gathered for story time with two special guests, Republican lawmakers Tom Gann and Marty Quinn.

Dressed in suits, the two men read aloud from “Petro Pete’s Big Bad Dream,” a parable in which a Bob the Builder-lookalike awakens to find his toothbrush, hard hat and even the tires on his bike missing.

Abandoned by the school bus, Pete walks to Petroville elementary in his pajamas.

“It sounds like you’re missing all of your petroleum by-products today!” Pete’s teacher, Mrs Rigwell, exclaims, extolling oil’s benefits to Pete and fellow students like Sammy Shale. Before long, Pete decides that “having no petroleum is like a nightmare!” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/15/big-oil-classrooms-pipeline-oklahoma-education? CMP=share_btn_tw

From 2011: 'Fracking' company targets US children with colouring book

Gas extraction company produces colouring book for US children featuring 'Talisman Terry, your friendly Fracosaurus' https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2011/jul/14/gas-fracking-children-colouring-book

Will Justin be the second Trudeau to get his clock cleaned by B.C.?

Scheer is not a threat. But the people the PM has let down are losing patience.

Trudeau made a major political blunder in aligning himself with a government whose rape-and-pillage approach to that special province is only now on display. The trade-off was obvious: Trudeau would play ball with Christy Clark and she would reciprocate by signing on to his national carbon policy.

Now that Clark and her band of corporate Liberal locusts have been thrown out, the extent of the damage they have done — and the degree of Trudeau’s sellout — is becoming more obvious by the day.

Just one case in point: BC Hydro is $20 billion in debt largely because Clark insisted that it borrow to cover operational shortfalls so that she could produce balanced budgets. In other words, she pushed the utility deep into the red so she could fake it with the public on the true state of the province’s fiscal health.

51 Those matters touched the province’s very soul. This is B.C., after all — the environmental Mecca. And still the federal government gave the green light to what may turn out to be the worst megaproject of them all — the $9 billion Site C Dam on the Peace River.

No customers for its potential power output. No rationale for its construction. Undisputed proof of the project’s destructive effects on the Peace River Valley, its farmland and wildlife. And did I mention skyrocketing electricity bills for British Columbians who might still have to pay for this white elephant?

Then, of course, there’s Kinder Morgan. British Columbians have just elected a government that is opposed to it. The new premier opposes it, the Mayor of Vancouver opposes it, the leader of the Green Party opposes it, coastal civic leaders oppose it, and First Nations have vowed to take to the ramparts to stop it.

I still remember the days when Trudeau was on their side — when they at least thought he was. http://ipolitics.ca/2017/06/15/will-justin-be-the-second-trudeau-to-get-his-clock-cleaned-by-b-c/

Swedish pension fund sells out of six firms it says breach Paris climate deal

"Since the last screening in December 2016, the Paris agreement to the U.N. Climate Convention is one of the norms we include in our analysis," the company said in a statement.

Trans Mountain pipeline's necessity questioned as tanker traffic slumps

Crude exports via supertanker from the Port of Vancouver fell 40 per cent between 2014 and 2016, a decline that has led critics of the $7.4-billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to challenge the need for the project.

In its report last year recommending approval of the Kinder Morgan project, the National Energy Board cited the company’s figures when it said the terminal typically loads five crude tankers a month. It forecast that, with the proposed pipeline expansion, that number could climb to 34 a month depending on demand from shippers.

52 However, exports from the company’s Westridge Marine Terminal have fallen dramatically since Kinder Morgan provided the traffic figures to the regulator. In 2016, just 15 tankers docked at the terminal – an average of 1.25 a month. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/trans-mountains-necessity-questioned-as-tanker-traffic- slumps/article35347374/?click=sf_globefb Judge OK's Deposition of Tar Sands Employee in Exxon Climate Fraud Probe

A judge on Friday approved a request by the New York Attorney General's office to grill several ExxonMobil employees as part of its widening probe into whether the oil giant misled investors about its risks from climate change.

Justice Barry R. Ostrager refused a request by Exxon to block two of the depositions at a hearing in which he ordered the two sides to meet outside of court to hash out their differences over New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's demand for more documents.

The contentious hearing did little to resolve the ongoing dispute between Exxon and the attorney general's office, which is investigating whether the company committed financial fraud involving what it told investors about climate change risk. Ostrager declined to rule on whether Exxon would have to produce additional documents that were subpoenaed Schneiderman in May. Exxon had asked the judge to throw out the requests. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16062017/exxon-hearing-climate-change-fraud-investigation- attorney-general-tar-sands

Judge's DAPL Ruling, Reckless Spill Record Pushes Pipeline Company's Shares Below $20 for First Time

Energy Transfer Partners, the company behind the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline and the fracked gas Rover Pipeline, has quite the extensive spill history, a new analysis shows.

After crunching the numbers from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), TheStreet revealed that the Dallas-based company spilled hazardous liquids near water crossings more than twice the frequency of any other U.S. pipeline company this decade.

And earlier this week, a federal judge ruled that that the Trump administration failed to consider the Dakota Access Pipeline's impact on the hunting and fishing rights of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. While the ruling did not shut down operations on the oil pipeline, which started flowing earlier this month, the judge has ordered a new environmental review.

A day after the judge's order, Energy Transfer shares fell to $19.53 on Friday—the first time it fell below $20 a share. The stock also slid 11 percent after FERC's order last month. https://www.ecowatch.com/energy-transfer-partners-stock-2442760591.html

Spills on Aging Enbridge Pipeline Have Topped 1 Million Gallons, Report Says

The analysis of federal pipeline safety data comes as politicians from both parties raise questions about Line 5 and a tribe has voted not to renew its easement.

53 An aging pipeline that passes through a critical stretch of the Great Lakes region has had at least 29 leaks in its 64-year history—spilling more than 1 million gallons of oil and gas liquids, according to information released this week based on federal data.

The spills along Line 5, which range from 285,600 gallons to 8 gallons and span the years 1968 to 2015, illustrate a steady drumbeat of incidents. Environmentalists and a tribe that lives along the line say this checkered past lends credibility to the fear that accidents do happen—and that should an oil spill happen in the wrong place, it could result in catastrophe.

Line 5 carries as much as 540,000 barrels of fossil fuels each day from Superior, Wisconsin, through Michigan to Sarnia, Ontario, and is owned by Canadian pipeline giant Enbridge. It passes under the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet, which has provoked concerns that if

54 the pipeline were to leak, it could contaminate the Great Lakes. Just last month, Enbridge acknowledged that the outer casing of underwater pipeline in that area had fallen off in 18 places. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/25042017/enbridge-pipeline-mackinac-line-5-michigan-oil-spill-risk? utm_content=buffer494f0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Oil spills/Pipelines

Numerous links. https://insideclimatenews.org/topics/oil-spillspipelines

Russia's Rosneft discovers vast new oil deposit on Arctic shelf

Russian oil major Rosneft has announced the discovery of a new oil deposit while drilling at Khatanga Bay in the Laptev Sea in the eastern Arctic. The Ministry of Natural Resources says this could be the largest oil deposit on the country’s Arctic shelf.

“During the drilling of the Tsentralno-Olginskaya-1 well from the shore of the Khara-Tumus Peninsula on the shelf of the Khatanga Bay of the Laptev Sea, three core samples were taken from depths of 2305 to 2363 m, which showed high oil saturation dominated with light oily fractions,” the company said in a statement.

The potential of the newly-discovered deposit has yet to be verified, the company said. https://www.rt.com/business/393002-rosneft-arctic-oil-russia/

Lead, oil, salt: Calgary's push for control over potentially hundreds of contaminated sites

Part of negotiations for new powers enshrined in a charter, city wants more say over land within its borders

55 A lone structure from its industrial past in the Inglewood Wildlands park. An oil refinery was once located on the site. There could be hundreds of contaminated sites in the city, but a hard number is hard to come by. (Drew Anderson/CBC)

Michigan must act now to shut down Enbridge's Line 5

The Great Lakes are an essential part of Michigan’s identity.

56 Four of the five lakes touch our borders. With more than 3,200 miles of shoreline, we have the longest fresh water shoreline in the nation. The Great Lakes hold 20% of the world’s total supply of surface freshwater, making them the largest source of surface freshwater in the world. They provide drinking water to 40 million U.S. and Canadian citizens.

They are a crucial factor our quality of life and in our tourism and hospitality industry. It’s no wonder that we call ourselves “the Great Lakes State.”

Because of the crucial role the Great Lakes play in our lives as Michigan residents, any potential threat to those lakes must be taken very seriously. If anything were to happen to despoil them, it would have a devastating, long-lasting impact on the entire state.

That is why the current debate regarding Enbridge Inc.’s Line 5 pipeline — two 20-inch pipelines that run parallel to the Mackinac Bridge across the Straits of Mackinac and that carry almost 23 million gallons a day of light crude oil and natural gas liquids — is so important.

The two pipelines were put in place in 1953 — 63 years ago — and basically forgotten by the public. But people became aware of their existence in the aftermath of July 2010 when another Enbridge pipeline broke open and spilled more than 1 million gallons into the Kalamazoo River in the largest inland oil spill in U.S. history. A similar spill in the Straits of Mackinac would be catastrophic to Michigan’s quality of life, for residents and visitors as well as fish and wildlife. A study conducted by the University of Michigan Water Center concluded that within 20 days of a spill in the Straits of Mackinac, oil would spread as far west as Beaver Island in Lake Michigan, a distance of about 35 miles, and as far southeast as Rogers City in Lake Huron, a distance of about 50 miles.

U-M hydrodynamics expert David Schwab concluded, "If you were to pick the worst possible place for an oil spill in the Great Lakes, this would be it. The currents are powerful and change direction frequently. In the event of an oil spill, these factors would lead to a big mess that would be very difficult to contain." http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2016/06/23/michigan-must-act-now-shut-down- enbridges-line-5/86250940/

Big Oil is pumping fossil fuel propaganda into classrooms.

A Center for Public Integrity investigation found that the industry is using its clout to get petroleum- friendly messages into K-12 education.

For example, the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board — a state agency funded by oil and gas companies — shelled out $40 million over the past 20 years to get pro-fossil fuel materials into the state’s curricula and programs.

Schools and libraries across Oklahoma received more than 9,000 free copies of the children’s book Petro Pete’s Big Bad Dream. The premise: Little Pete wakes up one morning to find his toothbrush and bike tires have disappeared. Then his school bus doesn’t show. When he finally gets to school, his teacher says, “It sounds like you are missing all of your petroleum by-products today!” http://grist.org/briefly/big-oil-is-pumping-fossil-fuel-propaganda-into-classrooms/

57 France to stop issuing new oil & gas exploration licenses – environment minister

France will pass a law in autumn banning new licenses for oil and gas exploration as an eco-friendly measure, the country’s environment minister has announced. The plan will not affect projects that have already been approved.

“There will be no new exploration licenses for hydrocarbons, we will pass the law this autumn,” Nicolas Hulot told BFMTV in his first major television interview since taking over as France’s ecological transition minister last month.

The move is expected to put an end to the exploration of shale oil and shale gas in mainland France and its overseas territories. https://www.rt.com/business/394000-france-oil-gas-licenses/

Oilpatch support for Notley climate deal running on fumes as CEOs depart

Claudia Cattaneo: International operators have already voted with their feet and taken their business elsewhere

With Brian Ferguson leaving as CEO of Cenovus Energy Inc. following a disastrous oilsands acquisition, only one of the four top oilsands leaders who made a secret deal with Alberta NDP Premier Rachel Notley to support her climate change agenda — including a hard cap on oilsands emissions of 100 megatonnes a year — is still around to defend it.

Of the four executives on the stage with Notley during the announcement 18 months ago, Lorraine Mitchelmore left as president of Shell Canada and was replaced by Michael Crothers, who sold Shell’s oilsands business to Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. Murray Edwards, the billionaire oil investor and top shareholder of Canadian Natural, moved to the U.K. and has become disengaged from the Canadian oilpatch, though he remains the company’s chairman.

Cenovus announced Tuesday that Ferguson will retire Oct. 31 and that it will search for a new leader. With its stock price shattered by the US$13.3-billion acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ oilsands assets, Cenovus is now vulnerable to being taken over at a bargain-basement price — if there’s still appetite for oilsands companies given Notley’s punishing carbon reduction regime.

The lone man still standing is Steve Williams, the CEO of Suncor Energy Inc., who has managed to grow his company both organically and through acquisitions in the new environment without going out too much on limb – so far.

Perhaps the turnover is indicative of the tough times experienced by the Alberta-based sector after more than two years of soft oil prices, or of normal succession plans.

But it didn’t help that the CEOs made a bad deal to mitigate damage from a hostile provincial government that has undermined their industry’s attractiveness and caused deep divisions between those who were at the table and those who weren’t.

Meanwhile, the deal has yet to achieve the promised peace with environmentalists or got them the market access they needed. The B.C. election, which resulted in an NDP/Green coalition that wants to

58 kill the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, provides further proof that Alberta gets no credit for its tough climate change program. http://business.financialpost.com/commodities/energy/and-then-there-was-one-final-ceo-who-made- climate-deal-with-notley-left-to-defend-it/wcm/2f73bfdb-4a34-49da-a503-ca161661c229

World's biggest coal company closes 37 mines as solar power's influence grows

Plummeting price of renewable energy puts pressure on fossil fuel firms

The largest coal mining company in the world has announced it will close 37 mines because they are no longer economically viable.

Coal India, which produces around 82 per cent of India's coal, said the mines would be decommissioned by March 2018.

The closures, of around 9 per cent of the state-run firm's sites, will reportedly save around 8,000,000,000 rupees (£98m).

India's solar sector has received heavy international investment, and the plummeting price of solar electricity has increased pressure on fossil fuel companies in the country. The government has announced it will not build any more coal plants after 2022 and predicts renewables will generate 57 per cent of its power by 2027 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/coal-india-closes-37-mines-solar-power-sustainable- energy-market-influence-pollution-a7800631.html? utm_content=buffer36dbf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Schuette calls for closure of pipeline under Straits of Mackinac

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette called for a comprehensive plan today for the closure of Line 5, a 645-mile petroleum pipeline that runs under the Straits of Mackinac.

Schuette stressed the need for a plan based on science, available technology and common sense to drive the timeline for the closure of the pipeline, which was built in 1953 and runs from Superior, Wis., to Sarnia, Ontario, transporting about 540,000 barrels of light crude oil and natural gas liquids per day, according to a news release from the attorney general’s office. http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/06/29/schuette-pipeline-straits- mackinac/439225001/

Andrew Scheer renews call for gas pump flags of origin

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer says stickers showing origin of oil could increase support for Energy East

Scheer told Information Morning Saint John that he thinks putting the labels on the pumps would increase support for the proposed Energy East pipeline.

59 "I believe that if Canadians knew that a significant percentage of their energy was coming from countries like Algeria, even the United States, Saudi Arabia, there would be more local demand for Canadian products," he said Friday.

Irving refines about 320,000 barrels a day and has committed to taking 50,000 barrels a day from the pipeline, not enough to end the company's use of foreign oil. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/scheer-oil-origin-stickers-1.4185690

Oil pipeline firms' discounts rile clients, roil markets

U.S. pipeline operators are selling their underused space at steep discounts to keep crude flowing - angering shippers and distorting an already opaque market for oil trading.

Pipeline firms such as Plains All American (PAA.N) and TransCanada Corp (TRP.TO) move about 10 million barrels of crude around the United States every day.

For pipeline operators to secure financing to build pipelines and storage facilities, they need oil producers, refiners and traders to sign long-term contracts to use space on the pipelines. Pipeline firms can then use the guaranteed revenue from those contracts as collateral. Firms shipping on the pipeline have historically benefited from the long-term deals because they offered a discount compared to the price of buying space occasionally.

But now, in the wake of a two-year oil price crash, pipeline firms are still struggling to keep their lines full. So their marketing arms are offering steep discounts to ad-hoc buyers of pipeline capacity - which irritates customers whose long-term contracts are now more expensive than spot purchases.

"If I were a producer with a long-term contract, I would be very unhappy at the present time,” said Rick Smead, managing director of advisory services at RBN Energy in Houston. “But, the reality is that when they (signed contracts), they were trapped.” http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pipelines-tariffs-analysis-idUSKBN19J0E9? feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campai gn=Feed%3A+reuters%2FbusinessNews+%28Business+News%29

60 Mining

Video - Mine Tailings Dam Collapses in Canada and Brazil

“Accidents” or “Environmental Crimes”?

Mariana, Minas Gerais, Brazil, November 5, 2015: Worst environmental disaster in Latin American mining history.

Mount Polley, British Columbia, Canada, August 4, 2014: Worst environmental disaster in Canadian mining history.

Moderated by Judith Marshall (CERLAC, York University). Presentations by: Bruno Milanez, researcher, Brazilian Network for Environmental Justice: “The Failure of the Fundao Dam: An Environmental Justice Issue?” Richard Holmes, Fisheries Biologist, Likely, British Columbia: “The Mount Polley Mine Disaster - Who Takes Ownership?” Joan Kuyek, Founding National Coordinator, MiningWatch Canada

Sponsors: MiningWatch Canada, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Mining Injustice Solidarity Network (MISN), Latin American Caribbean Solidarity Network (LACSN), Centre for Research on Latin American and the Caribbean (CERLAC), York University, Kairos: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives. https://socialistproject.ca/leftstreamed/ls352.php

Mine Tailings Dam Collapses in Canada and Brazil [1/2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzHriU5_wMM&list=PLhiXBRrj94PdeOCQEDTSHeBfgN23p9zNz

Barriere Lake Algonquins Face Assault by Mining Company Copper One at Annual General Meeting

61 What the Mount Polley tailings disaster has to teach us to protect the Nashwaak from the Sisson mine

One of the world’s largest tailing dams is proposed to be constructed in the upper Nashwaak River Valley as part of the proposed Sisson mine operation. With catastrophic mine waste spills on the rise and a failure of the Sisson mine’s permitting process to examine the possibility of a tailings breach, there is reason to worry about the future of the Nashwaak Watershed.

Jacinda Mack says that the lives and landscape of the Secwepemc territory in the heart of British Columbia forever changed on August 4, 2014, the day the Mount Polley tailings dam breached. Mack was the Natural Resources Manager for the Xat’sull First Nation when 25 million cubic metres (10,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools) of contaminated process water and tailings poured into Polley Lake, Quesnel Lake and eventually the Fraser River Basin.

David Chambers, a mining technical specialist with the U.S.-based Center for Science in Public Participation, maintains tailings disasters are on the rise and advocates against the construction of new tailing dams. According to the report, “The Risk, Public Liability, and Economics of Tailings Storage Facility Failures,” co-authored by Chambers, half of serious tailings dam failures in the last 70 years, 33 of 67, occurred between 1990 and 2009. Eleven catastrophic failures are predicted globally from 2010 to 2019. The average cost of these catastrophic tailings dam failures is $543 million, according to Chambers’ report.

While the industry says that they are working on best practices for tailings dams, catastrophic mine waste spills are increasing in frequency, severity and cost because of, and not in spite of, modern mining techniques. The tailings dams are getting larger and are not subjected to proper regulations.

Mining is essentially a waste management industry, says Joan Kuyek, founder of MiningWatch Canada. Kuyek argues that mining has short-term benefits and long-term consequences. What to do with the large amounts of waste generated from the mining of ore has always been a problem and the problem is getting worse with the mining of low grade ores that generate even more waste and require even larger dams or storage facilities. The increasing rate of tailings dam failures is directly related to the increasing number of larger tailings dams. http://www.conservationcouncil.ca/what-the-mount-polley-tailings-disaster-has-to-teach-us-to-protect- the-nashwaak-from-the-sisson-mine/

Gallant government rushing to approve Sisson mine despite lack of information, consultation

Elsipogtog – The first-term Liberal government of Brian Gallant seems to be rushing to approve the Sisson mine in central New Brunswick with neither a full cost-benefit analysis nor an adequate study of the project’s long-term closure and pollution costs.

With a July 17 deadline for public comment on the project looming, many people, including those gathered at a June 10 meeting in Elsipogtog, are crying foul about a consultation process that seems little more than a mere formality.

There have been two reviews by independent scientists identifying major flaws and glaring omissions in the environmental impact analysis prepared by Northcliff Resources Ltd. for its proposed Sisson Mine 60 kilometres northwest of Fredericton. These damning reviews have so far failed to dampen Liberal

62 ardor for the project. The open-pit tungsten and molybdenum mine will occupy about 1,250 hectares, or about 3,100 acres, just upstream from the Village of Stanley.

What is known is that New Brunswick taxpayers will be forever on the hook for pollution management costs associated with one of the world’s biggest permanent tailings ponds after the Sisson mine closes. The long-term storage of toxic wastes and water from the mine after its closure will create a permanent ‘tailings lake’ more than 200 feet deep and six kilometres long.

A 2012 review of the Sisson Mine by independent scientists commissioned by the Conservation Council of New Brunswick (CCNB) noted that “the failure of the Sisson Brook tailings dam could release millions of tonnes of tailings and millions of cubic metres of supernatant water into the ecologically valuable Nashwaak watershed.” Astonishingly, despite the fact that a tailings dam failure poses Sisson’s most serious threat to the environment, Northcliff chose not to assess the impact of such a failure in its study of the mine.

Approving construction of the Sisson Mine without a full cost-benefit analysis exposes New Brunswick taxpayers to further risk http://nbmediacoop.org/2015/06/15/gallant-government-rushing-to-approve-sisson-mine-despite-lack- of-information-consultation/

Three-year deadline to lay charges for Mt. Polley dam failure approaching fast

There is a three-year time limit to lay charges under B.C.’s Environmental Management Act. The deadline is less than two months away, on Aug. 4.

The conservation service has been leading a joint investigation with the federal Environment and Fisheries departments.

Chris Doyle, deputy chief of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, said last week that when the investigation is complete, the findings will be forwarded to Crown counsel for review and to determine what charges will be laid, if any.

Doyle said he could not comment on whether the investigation would be complete before the three-year deadline.

A dedicated team of 15 to 16 B.C. conservation officers have been working on the case with several federal Environment and Fisheries officers, said Doyle. “It’s a very complex investigation,” he said.

There is a longer period to lay charges under the federal Fisheries Act — five years for summary convictions, and no time limit for the most serious charges that could result in jail time. http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/three-year-deadline-to-lay-charges-for-mt-polley-dam-failure- approaching-fast

Court denies deforestation permit to mining company in Algonquin territory

Copper One could proceed anyway, thanks to the Quebec Mining Act

63 On Wednesday, June 7, Quebec’s Superior Court rejected mining company Copper One's appeal of a Quebec government decision to deny the company a deforestation permit needed to begin exploratory work in La Vérendrye wildlife reserve.

Copper One wants the permit in order to expand existing roads to transport equipment. The company may appeal, but the Quebec Mining Act allows exploratory work to be done without permits, or even notification for affected Indigenous communities. In a Feb. 6 press release the company suggested it could proceed without the deforestation permit by using helicopters to access the park, which is part of the territory of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake.

“We’re not going to allow this company to move into our territory. We’re going to block them. Block the roads. We just want to challenge the Quebec mining act, and we’ll go from there,” said ABL Band Councillor Norman Matchewan.

ABL is an Algonquin community of roughly 400 people living on a 24-hectare reserve in Quebec. For decades the impoverished community has been wrestling with the provincial and federal governments, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and corporations such as Resolute Forest Products and, now, Copper One. The community wants the 1991 Trilateral Agreement with the governments of Quebec and Canada implemented, including environmental protections, sustainable development, co- management of the territory, and resource revenue sharing. https://ricochet.media/en/1871/court-denies-deforestation-permit-to-mining-company-in-algonquin- territory

Collection of links re the Sisson Mine Project in NB

Northcliff Resources Ltd http://www.northcliffresources.com/s/Home.asp

Northcliff Resources Ltd, Investor Presentation, Sisson Tungsten-Molybdenum Project May 2017 http://www.northcliffresources.com/i/pdf/NCF_CP.pdf

Northcliff Resources Ltd, News Releases Go to Northcliff Home Page at: http://www.northcliffresources.com/s/Home.asp

Move mouse over Investor Centre and click News Releases from the drop down list

June 22, 2017 Northcliff Closes Private Placement Financing Northcliff Resources Ltd. ("Northcliff") (TSX: NCF) announces that it has completed a private placement, issuing 2,076,923 common shares at a price of $0.13 per share for gross proceeds of $270,000. http://www.northcliffresources.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=793564&_Type=News- Releases&_Title=Northcliff-Closes-Private-Placement-Financing

64 The last investment shown by Northcliff was for 2,076,923 common shares at a price of $0.13 per share for gross proceeds of $270,000 on June 22, 2017. See Northcliff Closes Private Placement Financing news release http://www.northcliffresources.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=793564&_Type=News- Releases&_Title=Northcliff-Closes-Private-Placement-Financing

Sisson Project Environmental Impact Assessment Report July 2013 Prepared By: Stantec Consulting Ltd., 845 Prospect Street, Fredericton, NB E3B 2T7 See mine site map on page 27 to see brooks affected Also see page 14 for brooks in the general area https://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/documents/p63169/93969E.pdf

Sisson mine gets federal approval, but environmental transparency questioned Work on mine will begin next spring, says federal cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/new-brunswick/sisson-mine-project-environmental-assessment- 1.4174768

Federal cabinet approves Sisson Mine - Shift - NB Government officials and the Conservation Council weigh in http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/974790723664

Sisson Project (Tungsten and Molybdenum Mine) June 23, 2017 - The Environmental Assessment Decision Statement has been issued by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and the Decision of the Responsible Authorities has been taken. http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/details-eng.cfm?evaluation=63169

Documents •For Public Participation (7) Contains all documents related to public participation opportunities http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/documents-eng.cfm?evaluation=63169&type=5

•News Releases (5) Contains all news releases related to this environmental assessment process. http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/documents-eng.cfm?evaluation=63169&type=2

•Additional Information (12) Contains additional records related to the project and the environmental assessment process. http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/documents-eng.cfm?evaluation=63169&type=1

All documents http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/documents-eng.cfm?evaluation=63169

Sisson Project Comprehensive Study Report http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/document-eng.cfm?document=113759

65 Environmental Assessment Decision Statement Sisson Project (Tungsten and Molydbenum Mine), New Brunswick http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/document-eng.cfm?document=119329

Decision - Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency The Ministers of Natural Resources and Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard have taken the following course of action on June 20, 2017, relating to the comprehensive study of the Sisson Project. The authorities may exercise any power or perform any duty or function with respect to the project because, after taking into consideration the Comprehensive Study Report and taking into account the implementation of appropriate mitigation measures, the authorities are of the opinion that the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects that can be justified in the circumstances. Implementation of mitigation measures is required for the project to address: •the atmospheric environment; •water resources; •fish and fish habitat; •terrestrial habitat and wildlife; •the vegetated environment; •the wetland environment; •human health; •land and resource use; •current use of land and resources for traditional purposes by Aboriginal Persons; •physical and cultural heritage resources; •accidents, malfunctions and unplanned events; and •effects of the environment on the project. A follow-up program to verify the accuracy of the environmental assessment and/or determine the effectiveness of any measures taken to mitigate the adverse environmental effects is required for this project. http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/document-eng.cfm?document=119330

Comments to the Review Panel on NB EIA 1172 Sisson Mine Project By Lawrence J. Wuest http://www.google.ca/url? sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj_vpri3tbUAhUG0YMKHZl VADEQFggkMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nben.ca%2Fen%2F2012-2014-sisson-brook-mine-2008- 2013%3Fdownload%3D3988%3Acomments-to-the-review-panel-on-nb-eia-1172-sisson-mine-project- lawrence-wuest-consultant-in-quantitative-ecology-and-resident-of-the-upper-nashwaak-17-july- 2015&usg=AFQjCNEzjyy88u7dlTxpAw5K843PgrFjLw

Conditions Of Environmental Impact Assessment Approval Sisson Mine Project http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/env/pdf/EIA-EIE/sisson/ConditionsEIASisson.pdf

Sisson mine approval triggers $3M bonus for 6 Maliseet First Nations The $579M Sisson mine project near Stanley received federal approval last week The federal environmental assessment ultimately found the mine would likely "cause significant adverse environmental effects on the current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes by Maliseet First Nations," but approved it anyway in part because official opposition by those communities has melted away.

66 On Friday federal and provincial politicians both expressed confidence the mine will now proceed. However, the company behind the mine proposal, Northcliff Resources Ltd., has consistently warned that may not happen. In regulatory filings required of publicly traded companies this January, Northcliff's management explicitly warned continuing low metal prices could kill the project. "If prices for tungsten and molybdenum decline or remain at current levels, Northcliff may not be able to raise the additional financing required to fund expenditures for the Sisson project," the company wrote as part of a comprehensive 55-page disclosure. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/sisson-mine-stanley-1.4177724 Sisson mine gets federal approval, but environmental transparency questioned Work on mine will begin next spring, says federal cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/sisson-mine-project-environmental-assessment- 1.4174768

What the Mount Polley tailings disaster has to teach us to protect the Nashwaak from the Sisson mine http://www.conservationcouncil.ca/what-the-mount-polley-tailings-disaster-has-to-teach-us-to-protect- the-nashwaak-from-the-sisson-mine/

News Geodex Minerals Ltd. http://www.geodexminerals.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?numCols=1&page=0

Geodex Minerals Ltd, Sisson Brook Project - Project Registration Prepared by: Rescan™ Environmental Services Ltd. Vancouver, British Columbia July 2008 http://www.geodexminerals.com/i/pdf/front/6577_sisson_brook_project.pdf

Re Sisson Mine CBC Story Chief Patricia Bernard should also be on the list of signatories. Email from Tracy Glynn, Conservation Council of New Brunswick

Regarding CBC story: Sisson mine approval triggers $3M bonus for 6 Maliseet First Nations http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/sisson-mine-stanley-1.4177724

To the editors of the CBC and reporter Robert Jones:

We are concerned with inaccuracies in the June 26, 2017 article “Sisson mine approval triggers $3M bonus for 6 Maliseet First Nations” by Robert Jones. The articles states that the Maliseet obtained a “package of incentives” in relation to the Sisson Mine. Accommodation is not a “bonus”, “financial package” or any kind of gift. Accommodation is a legal obligation that the Crown holds when it makes decisions that adversely affect the established or reasonably asserted rights of Aboriginal people under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982: Haida Nation v. British Columbia (Minister of Forests), 2004 SCC 73. Hundreds of accommodation agreements have been concluded across Canada, and it is entirely standard for them to include an up- front payment to the Aboriginal group upon regulatory approval of the project that will infringe established and/or reasonably asserted rights.

67 Contrary to what the article asserts, Maliseet opposition to the Sisson Mine has not “melted away”. The Sisson Mine Agreement does not provide Maliseet support for the Mine. To this day, most of the Maliseet communities and our members oppose the Sisson Mine. But under current Canadian law, the courts allow New Brunswick and Canada to decide what happens on our Territory. New Brunswick gave its main approval for the Mine in December 2015. Fighting the mine would have involved very expensive litigation, and as with most litigation, the outcome would have been uncertain. The elected leadership of the Maliseet communities therefore consulted with the membership and advisors, and a few months ago, after lengthy negotiations, we ultimately made the hard decision to accept accommodation to try to offset the Mine’s adverse effects on our constitutional rights. For most of the Maliseet communities, the Sisson Accommodation Agreement does not reflect comfort with or acceptance of the Mine. Rather, it reflects the hard reality of a Canadian legal system that, on its 150th birthday, remains fundamentally inadequate in respecting and meaningfully protecting our Treaty rights, Aboriginal rights, and Aboriginal title.

Woliwon for taking the time to hear our concerns with the CBC’s portrayal of our situation.

Chief Candice Paul/ on behalf Chief Shelley Sabattis Chief Gabby Atwin Chief Ross Perley

Maliseet chiefs stress opposition to Sisson mine, despite deal with government

Province reached multi-million dollar accommodation agreement over mine with 6 First Nations in 2016

Five New Brunswick Maliseet chiefs say their communities remain deeply opposed to a proposed open pit tungsten mine northwest of Fredericton, even though they signed an accommodation agreement with the province last winter that cleared the way for its environmental approval.

"The Sisson Mine Agreement does not provide Maliseet support for the mine," the chiefs wrote in a letter to CBC News. "To this day, most of the Maliseet communities and our members oppose the Sisson Mine."

Continuing animosity among several Maliseet communities paints a darker picture of why they came to an agreement not to launch a court challenge over the mine than versions offered by the provincial and federal governments.

New Brunswick reached a multimillion-dollar accommodation agreement with New Brunswick's six Maliseet First Nations last winter over the mine, but only one of those, the Woodstock First Nation, has expressed support for the project.

"For most of the Maliseet communities, the Sisson Accommodation Agreement does not reflect comfort with or acceptance of the Mine," the chiefs wrote.

"Rather, it reflects the hard reality of a Canadian legal system that, on its 150th birthday, remains fundamentally inadequate in respecting and meaningfully protecting our Treaty rights, Aboriginal rights, and Aboriginal title." http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/maliseet-first-nations-new-brunswick-government- chiefs-support-tungsten-mine-fredericton-agreement-threats-1.4185929

68 Call for managed and just transition from fossil fuels

Dáil committee considers Bill seeking divestment of money from fossil fuel industry

Those calling for the State to divest from the fossil fuel industry do not expect the transition to happen overnight, an Oireachtas committee was told.

“We do not want a cliff-edge but rather a timely, managed and just transition that puts the most vulnerable globally, as well as vulnerable households, communities and workers in Ireland, at the centre of concern,” Finola Finnan, deputy director of the aid agency Trócaire, told a Dáil committee which is considering a Bill calling for the divestment of public money from the fossil fuel industry.

“The cliff-edge we must avoid, however, is that of failing to deliver on the Paris agreement [on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases], and that means stopping the expansion of the fossil fuel industry and stepping up the pace of the phase-out.” https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/call-for-managed-and-just-transition-from-fossil-fuels- 1.3137175

ExxonMobil Talks A Good Game, But It’s Still Funding Climate Science Deniers

ExxonMobil executives repeatedly claim their company supports a federal carbon tax and the Paris climate agreement. The company’s checkbook ledger, however, tells a far different story.

Yesterday, the company released its annual list of its “public information and policy research” grantees, which shows that it spent $1.65 million in 2016 on a dozen think tanks, advocacy groups and associations that contest climate science and oppose both the Paris accord and a carbon tax—the very policies the company professes to endorse. Last year’s outlay boosted the total of the company’s expenditures on climate disinformation over the last two decades to $34.6 million.

Most of ExxonMobil’s spending on denier groups last year — 87 percent — went to four organizations: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Enterprise Institute, Manhattan Institute and American Legislative Exchange Council.

ExxonMobil gave more than half of last year’s kitty — a cool $1 million — to the Chamber, which provided President Trump with a key, but fraudulent, rationale for pulling out of the Paris agreement. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/exxonmobil-talks-a-good-game-but-its-still- funding_us_5956673de4b0c85b96c66116?ncid=engmodushpmg00000003

No Sure Plans, Funding for $51 Billion Cleanup and Rehabilitation of Oilsands Tailings Ponds

The future of Alberta’s sprawling tailings ponds is in serious crisis.

As of right now, there is no clear understanding if or how oilsands companies are going to clean up the 1.2 trillion litres of toxic petrochemical waste covering over 220 square kilometres in the province’s northeast.

69 On Monday, Environmental Defence and the U.S.’s Natural Resources Defense Council published a report that pegged potential costs for cleanup and reclamation at a staggering $51.3 billion: $44.5 billion for cleanup, with an additional $6.8 billion for rehabilitation and monitoring.

That amount exceeds the $41.3 billion in royalties collected by the province of Alberta between 1970 and 2016.

“Increasingly, as an Albertan, I am concerned that these will become public liabilities,” Martin Olszynski, law professor at the University of Calgary and expert in environmental law, tells DeSmog Canada.

“In my view, at this point, it’s more likely than not that they will become public liabilities.” https://www.desmog.ca/2017/06/28/no-sure-plans-funding-51-billion-cleanup-and-rehabilitation- oilsands-tailings-ponds

Data driven reality check points to end of growth in the tar sands

A new briefing released today points to a dramatic drop-off in investment in growth in the tar sands sector. After already under-construction projects – sanctioned before the oil price drop – are completed, no significant new production growth is planned.

The key findings of the report, released by Oil Change International, include: • Anticipated tar sands production growth is a legacy from before the 2014 oil price crash. The vast majority still to come on line was sanctioned in 2013. • After those projects are completed in 2020, no new construction activity is planned. • As reserves deplete, substantial spending will be required just to maintain slowly declining production. • Tar sands production growth depends on sustained oil price recovery that many analysts say is unlikely given changing economic and political conditions.

“The tar sands sector is digging in for the fight of its life, but the real casualties will be the workers and communities that are about to be caught in the crossfire,” says Hannah McKinnon of Oil Change International. “Now is the time for governments and shareholders to step-in and ensure the sector doesn’t take everyone down with it.” http://priceofoil.org/2017/06/29/release-data-driven-reality-check-points-to-end-of-growth-in-the-tar- sands/

70 Forestry

'Keep up the fight': Maritime forestry workers rally for fair trade for softwood

Hundreds of Unifor members gather in Saint John amid fears of job losses, mill closures over U.S. tariffs

An estimated 500 forestry workers and supporters from across the Maritimes gathered in Saint John on Monday to urge the federal government to demand a softwood lumber deal with the United States "before any more jobs are lost" due to countervailing duties and pending "anti-dumping" tariffs.

Their union, Unifor, held a rally at Irving Pulp and Paper Ltd. on the city's west side at 3 p.m. — one of five simultaneous events held across the country.

"The federal government's recent aid package for the industry was important, but the most important outcome is a negotiated softwood lumber agreement with the U.S. that benefits Canadian communities," Jerry Dias, Unifor's national president, said in a statement.

"With the right choices and strong action, Canada's forestry industry can continue to have a key role in our economy." http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/softwood-lumber-unifor-irving-u-s-tariff-negotiations- government-1.4167184

2nd wave of softwood lumber duties sets up 'dangerous' talks for Canada

U.S. Commerce department's preliminary anti-dumping duties expected Friday

The other shoe is set to drop for softwood lumber producers Friday as the U.S. Commerce Department is expected to reveal preliminary anti-dumping duties on Canadian imports.

Combine this with the retroactive countervailing duties announced in April, and the already-high stakes for trade negotiations between Canada and the United States may rise again.

Regardless of whether there's evidence of unfair trade, don't expect a finding that lumber was not dumped "because you can't get any leverage for NAFTA negotiations from that position," said Cyndee Todgham Cherniak, an international trade lawyer with LexSage Professional Corporation. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/softwood-lumber-anti-dumping-advancer-1.4171528

Wood marketing board turns to U.S. after snub in N.B. - Mar 06, 2017

40 per cent of Carleton Victoria board's sales are now to Maine

The general manager of the Carleton Victoria Forest Products Marketing Board says her organization is pivoting toward the United States after getting a cold shoulder from big wood buyers in New Brunswick. Bell said the wood is mainly going to Louisiana-Pacific Corp. in Limerick, Maine, and J.M. Huber Corp. in Easton.

71 She said AV Nackawic Inc. and J.D. Irving, Limited won't even negotiate with her marketing board. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/wood-marketing-board-maine-1.4009371

N.B mill owner tells U.S. thousands of Maine jobs at risk over softwood lumber duties

Twin River hired Washington law firm independent from ad hoc group to make province's softwood case in U.S.

One of New Brunswick's largest forestry companies is using its U.S. connections to argue that New Brunswick should be excluded from punishing U.S. duties on the province's softwood lumber exports.

Twin Rivers Paper Co. has told the Trump administration that thousands of jobs in Maine are jeopardized because New Brunswick isn't exempt from the duties.

That's because the company's Edmundston mill is linked, literally, to a large paper mill in Madawaska, Maine, that relies on New Brunswick wood chips and biomass.

But the June 12 request to U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross failed to win the exemption for New Brunswick.

In a preliminary decision Monday, Ross excluded the three other Atlantic provinces from countervailing U.S. duties announced earlier this year, leaving New Brunswick subject to them. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/twin-river-softwood-lumber-firm-washington-trump-new- brunswick-1.4180231

California places popular N.B. herbicide on list of cancer-causing chemicals

Glyphosate is widely used to control weeds, spray forests and kill undergrowth on tree plantations

Widely used in New Brunswick forests, the herbicide glyphosate was now classified as a cancer- causing chemical in California.

On July 7, glyphosate will be placed on the U.S. state government's list of potentially cancerous chemicals cancer.

This follows a decision by California courts to deny an appeal of the glyphosate classification by the company Monsanto, which produces several products that include the material, including the popular weed killer Roundup.

All products containing glyphosate must now be sold with warning labels that identify ingredients that are potentially cancerous. Companies selling those products will have one year from July 7, 2017 to add those labels to their products. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/gylphosate-herbice-new-brunswick-california- 1.4182805

72 It’s time for 21st Century forestry practices in N.B.: Glynn

Tracy Glynn, the Conservation Council’s Forest Conservation Coordinator, was featured in the top story of CBC New Brunswick’s evening news program on Wednesday, June 28, a feature about the widely- used herbicide glyphosate.

In July, California will add glyphosate — the active ingredient in the popular herbicide Roundup (and its forest cousin Vision) — to its list of chemicals linked to cancer, and will require products that contain the compound to carry a warning label about its carcinogenic effects.

Monsanto, the chemical giant which produces Roundup, had appealed classifying glyphosate as a cancer-causing chemical, but California courts squashed the company’s appeal this week.

Glynn told CBC News that she hopes New Brunswick lawmakers will follow the lead of California and other jurisdictions, such as Sweden, France, and Argentina, to classify glyphosate as a cancer-causing chemical and phase out its use on Crown forests in New Brunswick.

“Hopefully it puts more pressure on provincial and municipal governments to look at pesticides and to consider warning labels, and then phase it out completely,” Glynn said. http://www.conservationcouncil.ca/its-time-for-21st-century-forestry-practices-in-n-b-glynn/

Conservation Council’s Tracy Glynn wins Unsung Hero Community Award

She has been the Conservation Council’s forest campaigner since 2006. Over the years, Tracy has come to play an indispensable role as both our go-to forestry expert and one of the most reliable members of our organization, responsible for spearheading a variety of our community projects and events, such as our 5 Days for the Forest Festival and our Great Trees Challenge.

A PhD candidate in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of New Brunswick, Tracy also teaches courses on environmental and social movements at St. Thomas University, serves on the board of directors of both MiningWatch Canada and the NB Media Co-op, is a long-time member of the Cinema Politica- Fredericton Chapter, and is an active supporter of No One Is Illegal Fredericton and Reproductive Justice NB. http://www.conservationcouncil.ca/conservation-councils-tracy-glynn-wins-unsung-hero-community- award/

73 Video Links

TigerSwan's Corporate Mercenaries Track Protesters Like "Jihadists"

Mine Tailings Dam Collapses in Canada and Brazil [1/2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzHriU5_wMM&list=PLhiXBRrj94PdeOCQEDTSHeBfgN23p9zNz

Vanishing Arctic Sea-Ice: Expect the Unexpected...

Information Morning - Moncton, Michael Premo - "Water Warriors"

American director Michael Premo talks about the short movie "Water Warriors", a film about the fight against fracking in New Brunswick. http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/965383235530